Our Story
Filling the Needs Gap
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In 2018 after being around the senior care industry for decades, we realized that seniors in our area were struggling with needs that no one else was addressing. The upstate SC area is rich in excess clothing and food resources, but other necessities were just not being provided. In January 2019, Help for Our Elderly was founded with the vision of providing the basic essentials for our community. We serve hundreds of families a month and are steadily growing.
Our Mission is to service, supplement and enrich the lives of the elderly, disabled, and infirm and their families in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties.
Get in touch today to set up a time to come in and pick up the items that you need.
Our Team
Donna Smiley
Founder
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Donna Smiley retired from Fluor Corp. in 1996 and went on to become a Real Estate Broker for Better Homes and Gardens Young and Co. from 1997 to present.
She is a married mother of four, grandmother of nine, and mommy to three fur babies.
Andrew Ross
Board President
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Andrew grew up in the Carolinas and attended The Citadel where he earned a degree in Business Administration. Following Graduation in 2009, he immediately began working for a Horne / Guest Employee Benefits of Mt Pleasant, SC as a Junior Benefit consultant. Desiring a more relational career he changed focus to Senior Market Insurance in 2010, where he could engage one on one with the aging members of his community. After years in Senior Benefits, Andrew became a Managing Partner with Lexington National Insurance (LNI) Company. In the Summer of 2012, Andrew and his family moved from Charleston to Upstate SC where he was given the task to expand LNI in the Greenville- Spartanburg Metropolitan area. In December of 2014, Andrew decided it was time to leave LNI and began to build his own agency, True Advocate Group, LLC. Andrew’s Passion is to enrich the lives of the aging and disabled, with Community engagement, Healthcare Education, and Senior Benefit Advocation. He currently resided in Simpsonville, SC with his beautiful wife Alice, and their five children.
Ana Rivera
Board Secretary
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Born and raised in NYC, Ana Rivera moved to Spartanburg, SC in 1997. Ana is married to her husband, a Veteran of the Air Force, and together they raised 4 sons. She has worked in the Upstate SC community offering health services in different capacities since 2000, including the Health Department, ReGenesis Health care, Spartanburg Regional, Urology offices, and Cardiology offices.
Ana majored in business and psychology and her passion for community and serving was found. She worked as an Outreach worker and Medical interpreter for years helping low-income residents find access to affordable care. Ana also worked as a Doula helping expectant mothers through Birth Matters Doula Care. Her outreach work includes teaching health education with an emphasis on prevention, and she has served on the Hispanic Alliance committee, Diversity committee, the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce, the First Steps Advisory committee, the Spartanburg Lions Club of the Southside, and the South Carolina Primary Association.
Alnisa Gist
Board Treasurer
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Alnisa was born in Newark, NJ, and moved to Charlotte, NC In 1982. She worked in Charlotte Mecklenburg School System as a Computer Operator for the Automated Library System for 35 years. She and her husband are retired and now live in Spartanburg, SC.
Debbie Krell
Board of Directors
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Debbie has had a lifelong Career in Nursing with experience in hospital care, home health, home hospice, and case management. Her focus has been on enriching the lives of patients and clients, making a difference in the patient and family’s lives one day at a time.
Debbie and her family moved to Spartanburg, SC in 1997, and they raised their children in the Hillbrook community attending Jesse Boyd, McCracken, and Spartanburg High School. They were active in Boy Scout and Girl Scout local troops, and Debbie was an active member of Piedmont Area Girl Scouts as a volunteer in the Girl Scout Gold Program. They have also been active members of Episcopal Church of the Advent and Central United Methodist church.
Around 2020, Debbie became involved with Donna Smiley, the founder of Help for Our Elderly. Debbie’s life has been enriched by seeing firsthand the difference that Help for Our Elderly makes in their clients’ lives.