Earlier this week I advised residents that a resident who I met while conducting my daily bike calls around the Greenburgh had a major quality of life problem. Her daughter, a resident at one of the Greenburgh Housing Authority apartments had difficulty getting down the steps of her apartment due to an illness. She resides on the 2nd floor of an apartment and hadn't been able to enjoy the outdoors. She was basically a prisoner in her own bedroom.
I put the call out a call on the town website and on social media asking for citizen donations and ideas for funding a stairlift. The donations started coming to a newly created medical equipment fund managed by the Greenburgh Police EMS, when Gullotta House offered to take on the project. Matthew Gullotta planned to pay for the purchase and installation of a seven-stair mechanized chair lift from Hudson Pharmacy & Surgical, a third-generation, family-owned business they had worked with on previous projects. The next day the company was there for a site visit with installation set for Wednesday.
“I can't thank you enough and all the people who helped make this happen,” the mom of the daughter said wiping tears from her eyes. “This is a life-changing experience for my daughter; she is now able to enjoy the outside without the stress of the stairs. We will reach out to others who are having trouble and don't know where to turn. Miracles do happen.”
Hudson Pharmacy & Surgical owner, John Frustace, is a wheelchair designer who is now more involved in the day-to-day operations of this independent Ossining store that “doesn’t sell eggs and beer,” he said. “We are strictly a medical model, providing medicine and home medical and mobility equipment to improve people lives. It’s satisfying work.” He gave Gullotta House a discount
Any excess citizen funding raised will go toward similar needs of those living in Greenburgh. I have asked the Housing Authority to identify others who could also benefit from lifts or other devices that will make their lives better. The young woman who will benefit from the lift offered to take advantage of her mobility --will speak with other residents and help us identify needs others have. She will be one of our angels--helping others. This is just the latest in examples of the community helping those who need assistance. A few months ago an anonymous donor responded to another social media/town website post and donated an electric scooter to a person who lost his wife due to COVID-19 and who also suffered from COVID-19 and is disabled.
“We are so appreciative of how quickly our caring community comes together to answer the call to assist when asked. This is someone who is really isolated and not enjoying a good quality of life. A few connections coming together and finding funding fixed this immediately. We are so grateful to these citizens, to the Gullotta House and for Hudson Pharmacy & Surgical for making this happen so fast.” We are also grateful to the Housing Authority for helping to expedite the process that led to the quick installation of the lift.
If you want to contribute to future similar citizen needs for medical equipment, you can write checks to Greenburgh Police Department EMS with “charity fund” in the memo line at mailing address: 188 Tarrytown Rd, White Plains NY 10607. If you would prefer making your donation to the non profit Gullotta House check out their website: gullottahouse.org. The Gullotta House helps Westchester residents facing hardships. Their phone is 914-525-0744. They were a previous winner of the BEST in Westchester Magazine.