Lending a Helpful Hand and Set of Wheels: Meet March’s Granite Stater of the Month
When Gerald Kotkowski of Hampton, New Hampshire, was preparing for retirement, he knew he would have more time on his hands and wanted to find a way to give back to his community. Inspired by his own life experiences, Gerald chose to serve as a volunteer driver to help people undergoing cancer treatment, as well as those who experience visual impairments. Since he started working with both Future in Sight and the American Cancer Society, Gerald has provided more than 400 rides to his fellow Granite Staters in need. For his incredible volunteerism, I’m proud to recognize him as March 2019’s Granite Stater of the Month.
Gerald began driving people undergoing cancer treatment after he heard about the program from a co-worker. The cause, he said, touched him because of his own experiences — he and his wife both have had cancer scares, and their daughter was diagnosed with leukemia as a child. While his daughter has thankfully been cancer-free for over two decades, he still remembers the impact that the diagnosis had on his family. Gerald also provides rides to Granite Staters who experience visual impairments through Future in Sight, inspired by a friend with low vision. Many of the people Gerald drives are from rural parts of our state or don’t have the support networks they need while undergoing treatment and are profoundly grateful for the simple act.
In addition to providing rides, Gerald is also active in supporting adult Granite Staters who experience disabilities. Inspired in part by raising his own daughter who experiences Down Syndrome, every Monday, Gerald plays basketball with adults who experience disabilities through Friends in Action NH — an organization dedicated to providing social and recreational activities to those who experience disabilities. Gerald also serves on the board of the organization.
For his selfless work to support those who need care in his community and to ensure that those who experience disabilities are fully included, I’m proud to recognize Gerald as the March 2019 Granite Stater of the Month.
If you know an extraordinary Granite Stater you’d like to nominate, you can visit my website here.
