By Greg Ellison

(July 23, 2020) An elderly Ocean Pines resident, still working to survive despite being more than 80 years old, was overjoyed last week after a surprise donation helped fill her cupboards with food.

Ocean Pines Chapter of AARP President Larry Walton, who also is president of the Ocean Area chapter of National Active Retired Federal Employees, was contacted because of his volunteer work sponsoring food drives through the Community Church at Ocean Pines.

Walton said about two weeks ago Colby Phillips contacted him, after first speaking to fellow Community Church elder Steve Tuttle, about a $100 donation from an Ocean Pines homeowner who wished to remain anonymous.

In March, Phillips launched a social media campaign to help senior citizens living in the Pines who needed food, medicines and other necessities.

“I had done the donation thing when covid-19 first started because I just wanted to help people,” she said. “The homeowner remembered that and reached out to me because they wanted to honor a friend’s birthday.”

Earlier this year, Phillips established the “Local Help for You Worcester County” Facebook page.

“People always need help and it’s not just a covid situation,” she said.

The unidentified donor recalled Phillips’ earlier work and decided to touch base about a surprise birthday gift for a close friend in his 60s.

“He has everything he needs and every year I have a struggle and usually end up sending a fruit basket,” she said. “I wanted to do something that would mean something this year, especially with the pandemic going on.”

Hatching plans for a donation in her friend’s honor, the 80-plus year old reached out to Phillips who put her in contact with Walton.

“Colby contacted him and gave me his number,” she said. “We got together to talk, and I found out he was involved with the Community Church.”

After conversing with Walton, the donor felt assured the charitable donation would be applied to an appropriate end

“I got the name I should make the check out to and I said, ‘You apply it where you want to,’” she said.

Searching for a worthy recipient, Walton called on Community Church elder Ken Waters. They both work closely with the Sarah’s Pantry outreach mission.

After mulling over options, the pair thought of an ideal candidate, an 80-plus year old Pines resident still hard at work despite being long past retirement. The recipient’s name was withheld for privacy.

“[Ken] gets the lady food once a month from Sarah’s Pantry,” he said.

Aware of the woman’s financial challenges, the duo opted to purchase a $100 gift card from Food Lion.

Walton said last Thursday the recipient was shell-shocked after the pair unexpectedly knocked on her door and shared news about the kind gesture.

“Her jaw dropped, and it was down for 3-4 days,” he said.

Walton said the trio shared tears of joy during a quick trip to the grocery store with all the funds expended short of pocket change.

“The lady sent a thank you card to the donor,” he said.

For her part, Phillips was relieved to find the donation served its purpose.

“When someone offers money for food, you want to make sure it’s going to someone who absolutely needs it,” she said.

Noting the random nature of the birthday honor, Phillips said the chain of communication between community volunteers exemplifies the virtue of caring for others.

“If we’re able to do that and help others, whether it’s a cash donation, gift card, food or even prayer,” she said. “It’s important that we’re always looking out for our neighbors.”