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QUEENS WEEKLY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019
Queens org. gives healthy meals to local seniors
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Nonagenarians from
Elmhurst and Jamaica are
enjoying great service from
God’s Love We Deliver, an
organization that delivers
balanced high-quality
nutritional meals to its
clients living with severe
illnesses across the city.
Agnes Harrison, 98,
who resides in St. Albans,
partially paralyzed after
suffering a stroke, and
Herbert DeCordoda 91,
who lives in Elmhurst with
congestive heart failure,
both enjoy the delicious
meals delivered to their
homes twice a week, on
Tuesday and Thursday.
Their favorite meal, they
say, is the “delicious
pork chops.”
“I like the chicken and
fish, but I don’t bother too
much with the vegetable
soup,” said Harrison,
who has been a part of
the program since 2015.
“The chicken is not bad,
it’s good.”
With so many different
meals, DeCordoda, a
former chef and musician
who still enjoys playing
the drums, says he never
knows what to expect when
the next delivery arrives at
his doorstep.
“I like the modifications
of soup and it’s like a
surprise, and then when it
comes to dinner, their pork
is quite wonderful and quite
a few meatball dishes. It’s
very nice,” DeCordoda said.
“The service is fabulous
Agnes Harrison, 98, of St. Albans says her secret to longevitiy is getting up at 5:30 a.m. for a walk, and nutritious meals from God’s Love We Deliver.
with lovely people doing a
fine job for a great cause.”
Begun as an HIV/AIDS
service organization, today
God’s Love provides meals
for people living with
more than 200 individual
diagnoses. The organization
cooks and home delivers the
specific, nutritious meals
— free of charge — for their
clients who suffer from
severe illnesses. All clients
have access to unlimited
nutrition counseling.
The medically-tailored
meals are designed by
the registered dietitian
nutritionists and an
executive chef of God’s Love
to address each client’s
diagnosis, symptoms,
medication management
and side effects.
“Every client speaks
with a nutritionist at the
beginning of the program
about a nutritional meal
plan,” said Lisa Zullig,
director of Nutrition
Services. “The meals that
we serve are well balanced
and everything we send
is low sodium and heart
healthy. Majority of our
clients are over 60 and we
make sure people are eating
to maintain their health.
The meals are also created
to address the unique
needs of older adults like
changes in taste, difficulty
chewing or swallowing, and
more. If there are certain
things someone doesn’t
eat, we can remove that
and make modifications
to individualize
someone’s plan.”
God’s Love also delivers
Photos courtesy of God’s Love We Deliver
special meals during
the holiday season, such
as a full turkey dinner
for Thanksgiving.
With the help of
volunteers — more than
15,000 strong every year
— God’s Love has been
able to cook and deliver
over 7,000 meals each
weekday to neighbors in
need. Volunteers work in
the kitchen, deliver meals,
package meals, work in
the office, and help with
special events, according to
its website.
DeCordoda was notified
about God’s Love We
Deliver from his son, Eric
DeCordoda, who worked
directly with a dietician
from the organization to set
up his meal plan.
“It really has been
wonderful. My family
itself is very small, it’s just
me, my dad and my wife…
it’s almost as if we have
been brought into another
family at God’s Love We
Deliver,” said DeCordoda.
“That there are other
people out there that care
about my dad and want him
to eat healthy, and make a
home cooked meal. God’s
Love has kind of brought
my dad and I into this
family and have given him
incredible meals that really
changed his life in such a
wonderful way.”
Meanwhile, Harrison,
who was introduced to the
program by a counselor,
is looking forward to
receiving her next birthday
cake in celebration of her
99th birthday in March.
“I get a birthday cake
every year,” Agnes said.
“It’s white cake with
buttercream frosting and it
comes with my name on it
and says, ‘Happy Birthday
Agnes.’”Yes, I’m on my way
to 99 and am excited.”
Reach reporter
Carlotta Mohamed by
email at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4526.
Herbert DeCordoda, 91, of Elmhurst, a former chef and musician who enjoys playing the
drums, said he never knows what to expect when the next God’s Love We Deliver meal arrives
at his doorstep.
/schnepsmedia.com
