Cerebral palsy sufferer leads local AARP food drive
Published 11:26 am Saturday, November 10, 2012
BY STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com
FRANKLIN—Cerebral palsy hasn’t crippled Sam Moon.
Samuel Moon, left, receives a plaque from John Vargo Jr., president of the Franklin Chapter of the AARP, for collecting 98 bags of groceries during the group’s food drive. -- STEPHEN H. COWLES/TIDEWATER NEWS
Over two days in September, the 72-year-old collected 98 out of 130 bags of food for the Franklin Chapter of AARP’s food drive.
“He pretty much did it all himself,” said Chapter President John Vargo Jr.
Moon was recognized for his efforts during the AARP’s meeting on Thursday at Franklin Presbyterian Church.
“We wanted to make Sam feel extra special,” Vargo said. “His work speaks volumes for him. He’s a hard-working person.”
Moon has suffered from the cerebral palsy his entire life. The disorder can challenge walking and speaking.
“Some people gave us money, $78, and then we went to Farm Fresh,” said his wife, Chris. “I was by his side and took in what food people gave us.”
Vargo noted that Moon did deliveries.
“He pretty much did it all himself,” he said.
Moon, who also serves as treasurer, has been an AARP chapter member for nine years. Previously, he and his wife lived in Georgia where he was an accountant for 43 years.
“He did anything anyone asked him to do,” said Chris Moon, adding that other than his walking and speaking he does pretty good.
“His mother told him he could do anything anybody else can,” she said.
The Moons moved to Franklin to be closer to her father in Suffolk, where she was born and raised. The couple belongs to South Quay Baptist Church, where he’s also a deacon.
For its third annual food drive, AARP donated the food to Franklin Cooperative Ministry. Also recognized with plaques for their contributions were the Franklin/Southampton Retired Teachers’ Association, Pat Reeves, Emmitte Reeves and Ed Hudson.
