Tri-County Office on Aging

May 2023 E-Newsletter

Upcoming Health and Wellness Workshops

The work of a caregiver is never done. That’s why TCOA offers two important workshops for caregivers:

• Powerful Tools for Caregivers helps caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for someone else:
• Wednesdays, May 10 – June 14 from 1:00 – 3:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Holt (new dates)
• The Savvy Caregiver Program is an in-depth workshop for dementia caregivers (the person with dementia cannot live in a 24/7 care facility):
• Wednesdays, June 21 – July 26 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at Delta 39’ers Enrichment Center in Lansing

There are also two health concerns TCOA addresses in workshops:

• Matter of Balance is a fall prevention workshop for anyone concerned about falls and/or wants to prevent falls:
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 9 – June 1 from 9:30 – 11:30 am at St. Jude Catholic Church in DeWitt
• Wednesdays, July 12 – August 30 from 10:00 am – 12 noon at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Haslett
• Diabetes PATH is a workshop to help individuals manage symptoms and improve quality of life:
• Tuesdays, July 11 – August 15 from 9:00 – 11:30 am at AL!VE in Charlotte

To register, call TCOA at 517-887-1465 or email Christine at histedc@tcoa.org.

Having provided nearly thirty years of dedicated and cheerful service, it was no surprise that multiple TCOA staff members wished to honor Dave Jewison as May's Volunteer Spotlight. Dave actively serves as a delivery driver in the Clinton County Meals on Wheels program. 

According to his route coordinators, Dave always goes above and beyond for the Meals on Wheels program. Having delivered meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, taken on unique tasks upon request, and assisted with many last-minute meal deliveries, the program coordinators can rely on David to ensure no program participant goes unfed. Thinking back on his service, one of his coordinators humorously recalled a day where Dave voluntarily got stuck and dug himself out of a rural, snow-covered driveway, as he knew he couldn't cancel that delivery. 

That said, community values and snowy roads are not unfamiliar to Dave as he originates from the small, rural town of Waseca, Minnesota. After his high school graduation, Dave served in the army and, upon his return, continued his education at Mankato State College (now Minnesota State University). There, he met his wife, Gretchen, whom he’s been happily married to for 56 years.

After college, Dave followed a teaching opportunity in Mount Morris, Michigan, but quickly realized the role wasn’t meant for him. From there, he explored jobs in local roadwork and transportation, later finding his fit in Michigan's Department of Transportation (MDOT), assisting with analyzing data and making estimates for the use of potential roads. Many of Dave's traffic estimates have accurately predicted the use of roads that have since been built and are still maintained today.

After retiring from MDOT, Dave learned about the Meals on Wheels Program through its coordinator and decided to support the cause. Since then, Dave has enjoyed volunteering for the program, saying it provides a valuable service, and enjoys the fulfillment of checking in and providing meals to local older adults who need them.

Outside of volunteering, Dave has enjoyed gardening and fishing and hopes to get out fishing more this season.

Thank you, Dave, for your continued service and support of Meals on Wheels!