During the month of March, communities around the country come together to recognize the vital importance of Meals on Wheels. Please check out your local program and consider volunteering your time to help deliver healthy meals.
We know that Meals on Wheels makes a big difference in the lives of homebound seniors because it enables them to stay independent and allows them to continue to live in their familiar surroundings for as long as possible. But when we receive feedback and kind words from clients or from their families, these touching notes truly illuminate the many benefits provided by this critical service.
We recently received such a note from a family member after her 98-year-old father – a longtime Meals on Wheels recipient who was beloved by staff and volunteers alike – passed away:
On behalf of my family and myself, I would like to extend my gratitude for the wonderful meals and companionship you extended to my father, JR. My Dad considered so many of you his friends and always looked forward to seeing you and telling you the stories of his life. He was truly thankful that receiving Meals on Wheels allowed him to live at home until the end.
Please know that the work you do, whether as a volunteer or staff, means so much to the elderly people you visit. Please continue to be the compassionate and caring humans that you are. No reason to feel sad at my father’s passing. He lived a wonderful 98 years.
Homebound seniors can live like this because of YOU. Your support of LIFE ElderCare’s Meals on Wheels program ensures that seniors like JR can access the support they need to age at home. Thank you for choosing to help homebound elders – your kindness makes a world of difference!
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You are a part of the LIFE ElderCare family and we are very grateful for that.
You have helped change elders’ lives for the better. With your support, we can bring more food to those who are eating too little and provide other essential services to help them age in their own homes with optimal health and connection.
Your partnership has enabled the transformations we have seen in so many seniors after they find us. When LIFE ElderCare provides healthy food, assisted rides, health education, and more, lives change and there is a noticeable difference. We are told over and over by clients that receiving our help has gradually convinced them that there are still people out there who truly care about their well-being.
And, honestly, that results in the most profound kind of change.
It’s kind of like when you’ve been chilly and you go outside and feel the sunshine on your face. Anxiety and loneliness ebb away when elders become involved in LIFE’s services. It offers many a renewed chance to age in their familiar homes with the support they need.
These are people like Antonio, 83. It turns out that he had actually delivered Meals on Wheels for over 10 years when he was younger. After his wife passed away and his mobility got worse, Tony realized that he himself was now in need and fortunately he knew instantly where he could turn to get help.
He enrolled as a LIFE client and started receiving a daily home-delivered meal. “As a volunteer for so many years, I knew that Meals on Wheels made a big difference, but I didn’t realize just how much until I started needing them. And they’re really tasty!”
Another LIFE client, Zara (77), a retired pediatric nurse, felt completely alone after both her husband and her only child passed away. After a lifetime of caring for others, she was now struggling to take care of herself while she grieved the loss of her family. She rarely left the house anymore. A concerned neighbor reached out to LIFE and we stepped in with meals and rides, and also matched her with a volunteer named Sophie who started visiting regularly & calling at other times just to check in.
Zara said that getting services from LIFE helped her start to get back on track. “I was just sad all the time and nothing made me feel better,” Zara recalled. “But the meal deliveries reminded me that I needed to eat. And then Sophie started coming by. After a few months, I realized that I had started looking forward to her visits. She gave me some comfort when I thought I had no one left.”
More and more seniors like Antonio and Zara are turning to LIFE to get the support they need to stay healthy and connected to the community while they age at home. And the support of kind people like you is what enables LIFE to provide assitance and support to every senior who connects with us.
Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season filled with much comfort and joy from all of us here at LIFE ElderCare!
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Thank you so much for your kind and generous support of Meals on Wheels. The homebound seniors who depend on this critical lifeline get so much more than just a daily meal. They also get a daily wellness check from drivers to make sure they’re ok.
Meals on Wheels recipients are often isolated, with limited opportunities to interact with others. For some, the Meals on Wheels volunteer who delivers their meal might be the only person they see all day.
But the social aspect is only part of the value of this daily wellness check. Meals on Wheels volunteers have also intervened in unexpected emergency situations. If a senior does not answer the door, and has not told us they don’t need a meal, the team will reach out to their emergency contact and/or call for emergency assistance if needed. In this way, we’ve ensured that seniors who were injured or unconscious received emergency assistance in a timely manner and saved lives!
I wanted to share with you the story of Juan, an 84-year-old Meals on Wheels recipient. A few months ago, he fell early one morning, hurt his shoulder, and couldn’t get up or reach the phone. But he knew that Martin – his LIFE volunteer – would be stopping by around 11am with his lunch. As soon as he heard the knocking, he called out.
Martin called 911 and waited with Juan until EMS got him safely into the ambulance. Because of our timely intervention, Juan has made almost a full recovery.
Your support for Meals on Wheels truly does save lives, while also enabling homebound seniors to remain nourished in body, mind, and spirit. You help ensure that vulnerable elders are well and thriving – and for that we are truly grateful!
We’re pleased to share that last year, LIFE ElderCare delivered 148,712 fresh, healthy meals to 583 seniors. That’s 12,393 meals per month and 407 meals per day!
As you know, Meals on Wheels is a lifeline for homebound seniors who can no longer cook and shop for groceries. The need in the community continues to increase and every year, we step up to meet that need. We’re proud to enable more elders than ever to age at home with optimal health and connection to community.
The meals we provide, along with daily wellness checks and a few minutes of no-contact socializing, truly help older adults thrive. And this service makes such a difference to the seniors we serve.
A letter we received from the daughter of a 98-year-old Meals on Wheels client who recently passed away, is a touching testament:
"Dear Meals on Wheels Friends - on behalf of my family and myself, I would like to extend my gratitude for the wonderful meals and companionship you extended to my father, Irving. My Dad considered so many of you his friends and looked forward to seeing you and telling you the stories of his life.
Please know that the work you do, whether as a volunteer or staff, means so much to the elderly people you visit. Please continue to be the compassionate and caring humans that you are. Sending a world of thanks to you all."
I want to take a moment to thank you again for supporting the work we do to ensure that the seniors in our community are nourished in mind, body, and spirit. Because of you, these seniors know that they remain a vital part of a community that cares about their well-being.
March is also “March for Meals” – a time when Meals on Wheels programs around the country are recognized by local leaders. We encourage you to learn more about your local Meals on Wheels program. And if you can spare a few hours a week, consider becoming a volunteer.
We so appreciate your thoughtful kindness – it means the world to the vulnerable seniors we serve.
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For homebound seniors who can no longer cook, Meals on Wheels provides the nourishment they need to stay healthy and continue to live in their own homes.
Mary, an 82-year-old Meals on Wheels client who lives alone, recently sent us this heartwarming message:
“Your service is a godsend – I appreciate it very much! I can't drive, and my neighbors would sometime drop off meals, but they are so busy I can't rely on them. Getting good food every day from LIFE ElderCare has been a lifesaver. And the volunteers who deliver my meals are always so polite and kind!”
Before she started receiving meals, Mary’s neighbors worried that she wasn’t eating enough. When they noticed she was getting frail, they called LIFE ElderCare to see if we could help. Now, Mary looks forward to her daily delivery and loves that her volunteer always asks how she’s doing.
As you may know, LIFE ElderCare’s mission is to empower older adults to live with independence and interdependence. With your help, we provide not only healthy meals, but also wellness checks, fresh groceries, friendly phone calls, assisted rides, health & wellness interventions, and access to other resources for vulnerable elders as needed.
But more than that, your support reminds isolated seniors that they are not alone and it enables them to remain connected to the community and nourished in body, mind, and spirit as they age.
Thank you for supporting the elders in your neighborhood – your kindness makes a world of difference!
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