Food Security United States Project #17690

Feed 10,000 Meals to Homebound Elders

by LIFE ElderCare

Project Report | Feb 27, 2021
You Provide So Much More Than Meals!

By Patricia Osage | Executive Director

Your support of LIFE ElderCare’s Meals on Wheels program ensures that vulnerable elders receive a fresh meal and wellness check every day. But along with healthy meals and essential services, your generosity also brings warmth, comfort, and the joy of connection to elders in need. You make their days brighter, reminding them that kind members of the community care about their safety and wellbeing.

How much do we and the elders we serve appreciate your support? Paulie’s heartfelt smile says it all…

A few weeks ago, LIFE ElderCare clients received gift bags from local Girl Scouts along with their regular Meals on Wheels deliveries. When the volunteer handed Paulie her bag, she looked at her disbelievingly at first and, as a big smile spread over her face, asked:

"But why me? Why is someone giving ME a present?"

The answer to her question is, of course, because YOU – and other kind souls like you – are there. During COVID, with so many more seniors unable to leave their homes, we have been working harder than ever to meet the need, delivering over 50% more meals than normal to those at risk.

Because of your donations, we have been able to assist every senior who reached out for help. And so, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your ongoing support – it truly makes a world of difference in the lives of the homebound elders we serve!

Links:

LIFE ElderCare Annual Report

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Oct 30, 2020
Because of YOU, Homebound Elders Can Stay Nourished & Safe!

By Patricia Osage | Executive Director

As the COVID-19 shelter-in-place continues with no end in sight, homebound isolation remains the new normal for thousands of at-risk seniors. And those who have no one to help them continue to rely on LIFE ElderCare for critical assistance: access to healthy Meals on Wheels and fresh groceries, connection to reduce their isolation, and other essential support.

Since the start of the pandemic, LIFE ElderCare has stepped up to provide them with the assistance they need to stay nourished in mind, body, and spirit. We’re delivering over 13,000 Meals on Wheels / month (way up from the ~8,000 we were delivering pre-COVID). And because of this daily meal and other support - like home-delivered groceries from the food bank - high-risk elders can safely stay in their homes. They don’t have to put their health at risk to make sure they have enough food to eat.

These are the seniors who live in our neighborhoods. Seniors like Lila G., a 79-year-old retired third-grade teacher. She tries hard to eat healthy so she can manage her high blood pressure; but when COVID-19 hit, Lila only had enough food to last for a few days and no family members who could help.

“I was scared. I really didn’t know what to do or who could help me. Thank heavens I connected with LIFE ElderCare. They are all so kind and patient with me – and now, I have good food to eat again.” – Lila

Luckily, Lila heard about LIFE ElderCare and gave us a call. The very next day, a LIFE ElderCare volunteer arrived at her home to hang a bag containing a healthy meal and juice on her doorknob. The volunteer waited (at a safe distance) to greet Lila and make sure she was doing ok. Because of this daily meal, and other services that LIFE was able to provide, Lila no longer feels alone or afraid.

Our success in fulfilling our mission depends on your generous support. With your help, seniors can stay nourished, safe, and connected. Thank you for caring for the well-being of one of the most vulnerable groups in our community – the homebound elders who need our support more than ever while they face the threat of COVID-19.

Because of you, they don’t have to do it alone. Your thoughful kindness makes a world of difference!

Links:

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Jul 6, 2020
LIFE ElderCare COVID Update: Focus on Food & Connection

By Patricia Osage | Executive Director

As you all know, the Alameda County shelter-in-place (SIP) order resulted in thousands more seniors becoming suddenly homebound. To ensure that these elders continued to have access to healthy food, LIFE ElderCare expanded its Meals on Wheels program and relaxed eligibility requirements so that we could provide healthy mid-day meals to senior in need.

The SIP caused a huge spike in demand for Meals on Wheels. We are grateful to share with you all that we have been able to fulfil every request for assistance and are delivering 50% more meals per day than average! Meals are delivered with no contact to porches and front doors; then masked volunteers wait from 6 feet away to say hello and provide a daily well-check.

Even as parts of the community slowly reopen, isolation will remain the stark reality for the many seniors who are at risk. And so, LIFE ElderCare will continue to function as their lifeline to essential services, support, and connection. Whether they healthy meals, groceries, meds or other essentials; a friendly phone call; help connecting with other resources; or reassurance about how to protect themselves during the pandemic – we are there to provide help as needed so that vulnerable elders can continue to safely shelter-in-place.

We have been able to meet the sharply increased need for meals because of community support from kind people like yourself. We have been deeply moved by this outpouring of support: those who have donated time, money, and supplies to ensure that we can continue to provide essential services for vulnerable elders.

Thank you for helping us care for our aging neighbors. You support ensures that no senior is hungry and alone – especially during these challenging times. Take care and stay well.

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