Features |
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Preston: Making an investment in the community
from Jack Beckley |
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Preston Johnson
Initially, I came to know Preston as an acquaintance seeing him helping at the Melrose food pantry, driving for the Red Cross, donating at local blood drives, and being active in community groups such as the Old Railroad Wheels/ He has served as its president for eleven years and is proud of its motto, “May the wheels of friendship never grow rusty.” Later, as the Melrose Council on Aging director, I have come to appreciate an all-volunteer international organization called FISH {Friends in Service to Humanity}. Since its 1967 inception in Melrose, community-minded volunteers have been providing Melrose residents with free medical transportation. Preston began driving for FISH in 1984. Since then, he’s become its longstanding president, and hardly a day goes by without a “FISH call”. One recent year when Preston bothered to keep track, he made 158 calls, logged over 1,500 miles and donated over 500 hours of his time. Currently, Preston is the president of the local AARP Chapter 1124. During his tenure, he has stressed its motto, “To Serve, Not to Be Served.” He also serves on the board of the not-for-profit organization the Melrose Friends of the Aging in which he was active in its fund raising campaign to create the Carriage House Lounge in the Milano Senior Center. On almost a daily basis, he can be found having lunch with friends at the Milano Center. After lunch, he works on the unglamorous, but very important, clean-up crew. In conclusion, Preston is a gentleman who values friendships and service to community. He sets a fine example for us all to follow. I sincerely hope that you will consider him deserving of a “Seven Over Seventy” award. Submitted by Jack Beckley, Executive Director, Melrose Council on Aging
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