July 7, 2020–6:14 a.m.

NEWS RELEASE

Officers are working to provide dignity to an elderly man as he battles health complications and cancer that is in an aggressive stage.

The police department will gather at his home in Armuchee next weekend for a clean-up and is asking for help from the public to buy cleaning supplies and appliances to support our goal.

The 63-year-old man lives alone with several dogs and is embarrassed to seek help from home health and Hospice because of the disrepair of his home.

The man, who will not be identified because of the situation, has been diagnosed with cancer and congestive heart failure.

He has been alone since the death of his wife six years ago and is currently living without water or garbage service.

The Floyd County Police Department is working with the Sheriff’s Office, Brotherhood of Firefighters, and Rome-Floyd Litter & Blight Task Force to make his home more livable.

The clean-up is scheduled for July 16 – 18.

This is the second community service project tackled by the police department group called FCPD Works.

The first project was a year ago in Garden Lakes and was very successful thanks to donations from the community and help from local merchants.

The 2020 project is the result of an investigation by our code enforcement officers.

Neighbors in the area had been complaining about garbage and smell from the residence so when officers went to investigate they found the man and his dogs in their difficult circumstances.

“He’s very modest and won’t ask for help,” said Katy Walters, a code enforcement officer helping organize the event. “He’s been sick for well over a year but he’s humble and doesn’t like to ask for any help”

Several donations of furniture have already been made from the public to assist in the project, but more is needed to make the clean-up successful. Monetary donations can be made at the Floyd County Police Department to the attention of Sgt. Chris Fincher.

At this time the project is still in need of the following items:

 Window air conditioner
 Couch
 Cleaning supplies
 Personal protective equipment for volunteers working inside
 Portable toilets for volunteers
 Regular garbage delivery service to the home

Thank you to companies who have already agreed to help in our endeavor:

 Allen Murphy’s Appliance Center: refrigerator
 Floyd County Public Works: gravel for driveway bed
 Floyd County Water Department: waiving start-up fees for service
 Food Lion: waters and beverages for volunteers
 Mulkey Inc: large haul off containers for garbage disposal
 Prater Ford: leasing a vehicle at no cost to replace one that had a break down
 ProSystems Clean Care: full service cleaning of the home
 Rome Equipment Rental: all clean up equipment for the project
 Summit Quest: hospital bed, shower chair and walker

Rhinehart Equipment is providing a large bobcat, brush cutter and grapple bucket for outdoor work.