Robert Smith, a volunteer for Washington Area Faith in Action, Inc., makes a monthly food delivery to 60 homebound, low income, elderly people in Wilkes County. Robert Smith is a dedicated volunteer with Washington Area Faith in Action Inc. (WAFIA)

Smith began his charitable work about eight years ago when he was employed full-time with Care South, working on some of their more difficult cases. "He is a strong man with a positive attitude," says Joe Harris,

a member of Washington Area Faith

in Action. ............................................................ The volunteer work meant delivering 25-pound boxes of food each month to 60 low-income homebound folks in the county. The source of food, the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta, identifies this as the Homebound Brown Bag program. The supply of staple food is delivered to Washington at o cost but local delivery costs must be assumed

by WAFIA. Smith receives

no remuneration for his services.

............................ His typical delivery begins after

work hours with Thomson Construction

....................AD! .................. during the summer, and on early Saturday mornings during the winter. Boxes are left in every

............................ housing project and elsewhere in

............................ Washington and to individuals in Tignall, and in the Rayle area.. In all, he travels about 60 miles. Sometimes he has help riding with him, sometimes not.

Recipients lead a lonely life and are glad to see him. A positive attitude is always good for the soul. They are homebound for a variety of reasons which Smith appreciates because of his CareSouth experiences. Congestive heart failure and diabetes are not uncommon. Amputations are encountered, as is kidney failure and stroke.

Nearly two-thirds of the recipients live alone and it is a welcomed break in monotony for someone to bring a gift and share a bright moment in the day. Recipients must sign a receipt - most of them are able to do this - which takes an extra minute or so.

Although Smith gives over 60 hours per year to food delivery and has delivered over 112 tons of food in eight years, his greater contributions are the gifts of hope and expectation. His "customers" know when he is due and he hears about it if he is late. He says that the cases that "really get to you are those in which their mind is still good but their physical problems limit socializing - like this really great piano player who is at home by herself most of the time. Sometimes she gets out to the Center. She does for herself around the house. She has a lot of great memories and likes to talk but has no visitors. When I come in, we talk about the Lord a lot."

The Smiths have two children. Their son is at home but their daughter works with the Department of Family and Children Services in Lawrenceville. Since Hexcel closed, his wife has become certified as a nursing assistant (CNA) with special interests in dialysis and blood work. She is now working on her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degree.

Smith himself started his work in health care in 1985 at the nursing home and now, even with his job with Thomson Construction, he works part time at Wills Memorial Hospital.