Highl ights - Montgomery Area Council on Aging

18
STACIA BAILEY
Receives Award
from the Alabama
Gerontological Society
Local Montgomerian Stacia Bailey received
the Professional Award from the Alabama Gerontological
Society (AGS) at the AGS annual Awards
Luncheon held at the Westin Hotel in Huntsville on
Thursday, April 12, 2012.
The Alabama Gerontological Society is a
non-profit membership organization devoted to improving
the well-being of older persons throughout
Alabama. Each year the AGS Awards Committee
“Your Heart Will Understand!”
MACOA Board member Sam Johnson, Senior Services
Director Mary Margaret Kyser, and Executive
Director Rick Heinzman are shown with Stacia
as she accepted her award.
selects and recognizes individuals and organizations throughout the State of Alabama for their outstanding
contributions on behalf of older Alabamians.
Stacia Bailey was nominated by the <strong>Montgomery</strong> <strong>Area</strong> <strong>Council</strong> On Aging. The AGS Professional
Award is given to an individual employed in the field of aging in recognition of exceptional efforts
“above and beyond” the scope of their job description or duties in enhancing the lives of older
Alabamians. Stacia has been an employee in MACOA’s Meals On Wheels program for seven years.
She has been an outstanding member of the MACOA team. In her tenure at MACOA, Stacia has
been intertwined in many of our seniors’ lives, through delivering meals and when necessary, checking
on a needy client when they cannot be reached. Mrs. Bailey is known for developing relationships
with her clients and volunteers as well. She is known for her pleasant and most congenial
personality with a smile that can light up a room. Her clients and volunteers look forward to interaction
with her. Mrs. Bailey has pure respect and sincerity that she exudes to all of the people she
comes in contact with in her daily life.
Over the last seven years Stacia has driven thousands of miles and delivered thousands of
meals throughout the area. She is always willing to pitch in whether it is in Meals On Wheels or anything
involving seniors in our organization. Her most notable and ongoing service has been with Mr.
David Hart, a frozen meals client who would walk over a mile to get his frozen meals weekly. When it
appeared that Mr. Hart was experiencing more and more trouble with this task, Stacia stepped in and
gave him rides home or simply took the meals to his home. It was at that time that Stacia became
aware of the horrific conditions in which Mr. Hart was living. His home was full of mold and mildew.
The roof leaked and the landlord absolutely ignored his request for maintenance. Of course Mrs. Bailey
immediately came back to the office and began to search for a new place for Mr. Hart to live. She
put his name on dozens of senior housing lists and helped him fill out all of the appropriate paper
work. Mr. Hart now lives in a lovely modern apartment building that has a library, one of Mr. Harts favorite
past times.
It took one person taking an extra interest and offering a hand. MACOA is very fortunate to
have such a caring individual in its organization. Stacia Bailey and Mr. Hart are the epitome of what
MACOA is all about.
Because of her dedicated interest in helping senior citizens maintain their independence and
lead healthier, more satisfying lives through the programs of MACOA, Stacia is most deserving of the
2012 Alabama Gerontological Society Professional Award.
MACOA is the largest private nonprofit corporation in the <strong>Montgomery</strong> area dedicated solely to
serving senior citizens. Since 1972, MACOA's purpose has been to assist senior citizens by providing
services to promote independent living, by offering opportunities to enhance quality of life, and by increasing
community awareness of senior issues.
MACOA/Summer 2012