ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — It has been more than a year since COVID-19 put seniors on lockdown in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
This week, an effort to bring joy to seniors who otherwise feel isolated and alone hit its one year mark.
Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce and founder of the Van Duzer Foundation nonprofit, started “Slices for Seniors” at the beginning of the pandemic.
Van Duzer and groups of volunteers and donors would deliver pizzas to the facilities, along with t-shirts and handmade cards.
Treasure Coast Hospice, Dr. Shamser Singh, We Honor Veterans, Dragonfly Graphics, and Seacoast Bank gave donations in addition to community members to make the effort a success.
“We’ve hit every nursing home and assisted living facility in St. Lucie County and a little over 5,000 seniors in one year,” Van Duzer said.