The Herrin Family

“Caring for Friends came into my father’s life after my mother passed away at the end of 2016. He found himself alone in Pennsylvania as I reside in Florida. Soon after my mother passed away my father set out to seek some help for himself and stumbled upon Caring for Friends. Initially when he told me about the service that was provided I was grateful that he would get some relief with meals for a little while after my mother’s passing. What I did not expect was the longevity of the help that my father would receive in the years to follow.

Gary Ingersol was the the volunteer that began the food deliveries to my father and was someone who grew to be a friend to my father and cared for him more than just doing a drop off service of food. What Gary provided my father in addition to food, was companionship, kindness and someone to talk to. My father was isolated and very lonely (and refused to leave Philly move to Florida to be near my family). Over the years my father would mention Gary’s visits and expressed appreciation of the service that Caring for Friends provided. He described the soups and the meals that supplemented his grocery shopping. The deliveries not only provided hot meals but also helped his budget, as he lived on only Social Security.

Gary continued delivering food until around 2021, when my father became too ill to remain in his home and entered assisted living. I even had the pleasure of meeting Gary and his wife when they attended my father’s funeral in May of 2022. Overall, I cannot express enough the gratitude that I feel towards Caring for Friends and Gary’s kindness. This organization will always hold a special place in my heart for the comfort that the food deliveries gave my ailing father.” –Michelle Herrin