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
Agnes Harrison, 98, of St. Albans, says her secret to longevity is getting up at 5:30 a.m. for a walk
and nutritious meals from God’s Love.
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
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. Courtesy of God’s Love We Deliver
dinner, their pork is quite
wonderful and quite a few
meatball dishes. It’s very
nice,” DeCordoda said. “The
service is fabulous 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
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.
TIMESLEDGER,QNS.COM AUG. 30-SEPT. 5, 2019 3
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