WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS
Meals on Wheels
Barbara Barnacal
Donald Birdsong
Brooks Campbell
Jean Pierre Faut
Tamala Finden
Suzanne Franz
Cecilia Hartley
Barbara Lorentzen
Bryan Nelson
Cheri Nunez
Dana Williams
C. C. Cafés
Richard Esner
Linda Esner
Sharon Burns
Sue Wetzler
Rowdy Harmon
Cindy Hurley
Safeer Lee
|
|
Friendly Visitors
Jeff Hanson
Fred Adams
Katherine Thomas
Carissa Swanson
Jennifer Grant
Linda Elmore
Administrative
Cathy Remick
Lynette Felton
Darleen Hallberg
|
WORDS WE
LIVE BY
"I am a senior living alone. The delivery of Meals on Wheels enables me to continue to live here comfortably.
The volunteers who deliver the meals are great as are the meals. A grateful thank you!
Please save lunch.
"
Betty,
Meals on Wheels Client,
Antioch
|
MEDIA
Walnut Creek Dealership to Donate New Car to Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services
Blossoms for Barbara on Valentine's Day
|
Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) recently received donations in honor of:
Jesus
Paul Gee
Amanda Grubb
Marcia Allender
Niki Quinn
MOWSOS recently received donations in memory of these individuals.
Our deepest condolences to the families and friends of:
Chris Rampoldt
Jack Shrader
Robert Tulk
Geraldine Fink
Adel Pagone
Rudolph Cisar
Virginia Opena Swezey
Shawn Morrissey
John Bahan, honoring a righteous life!
Miss Lilly
Jock Maggio
Jean Mentzer
|
AmazonSmile
When completing your shopping on Amazon, use Amazon Smile and pick Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services as your charity of choice. Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to our organization.
Make your purchases count, visit smile.amazon.com!
|
|
LEAVE A LEGACY
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we are eligible to receive bequests.
Please contact Erica Marcus at
emarcus@mowsos.org
or 925-937-8315.
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
MOWSOS
50th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, May 12
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Blackhawk Museums,
Danville
Mondays
11:00am - 12:00pm
Wednesdays
2:00pm - 3:00pm
San Pablo
~
Tuesdays
10:00am - 11:00am
Brentwood
~
Thursdays
8:30am - 9:30am
Pittsburg
Tuesday, February 20
9:00am - 11:00am
500 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill
(To benefit MOWSOS)
Saturday, March 17
12:00pm - 2:00pm
3100 Contra Loma Blvd.
Ste 3150, Antioch
Saturday, March 24
8:45am - 4:00pm
Black Diamond High School,
Pittsburg
Rotary Home Team
Home Maintenance Program
for older adults in Contra Costa County
Saturday, March 31
To schedule an appointment, call
(888) 204-5573
one week in advance
|
|
If you have suggestions for our newsletter or would like to contribute a quote, photo, or story, please contact:
Susannah Meyer
Community Engagement Director
Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services
925-937-8311 x104
1300 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-937-8311
mowsos.org
|
|
|
|
Issue 6, Volume 2
|
February 2018
|
|
|
 |
|
Senior hunger has doubled over the last two decades. Hunger and malnutrition are associated with depression, poor health, and increased demand for healthcare services - scary stuff! Scary that is unless you engage in conversation and push for change. Fortunately, we at MOWSOS are engaged in conversations and partnerships that are making a difference.
One new project brings seniors together with young people to engage in activities and conversations together. Recently Sycamore Place in Danville hosted 16 seniors and 5 mother-daughter teams in Valentine's Day cookie decorating. Read more about this activity below. Breaking social barriers can reduce feelings of isolation and depression.
In the coming months we'll share more about the creative partnerships we are engaged in to reduce hunger and improve health.
We are celebrating 50 years of service this year. New, creative partnerships are ushering us into the next 50 years. Come celebrate with us at our 50th Anniversary Gala as we make the world a better place.
Sincerely,
|
| MOWSOS 50th Anniversary Gala |
|
|
| Friendly Visitors |
 Intergenerational Program
MOWSOS' Friendly Visitors program is expanding to include an innovative and exciting Intergenerational Program. Throughout the years, Friendly Visitors volunteers have asked to bring their kids along during visits. Now, through additional funding from the County we are able to expand our program to include younger community members.
Our Intergenerational Program will engage isolated seniors and young people of all ages with the goal of
enhancing the lives of all participants. Together we will create memorable experiences though sharing a meal, playing games, arts and crafts projects, and just
getting to know one another. We will raise awareness of the needs of our elderly population, as well as provide the next generation with a heightened sense of community service and volunteerism.
"What we are doing is instilling the next generation with the idea that we all need to care and be responsible for one another. This is why this program excites me," Cynthia Black, Health and Wellness Division Manager.
 The Intergenerational Program's first event was a Valentine's Day Cookie Contest at the Sycamore Place in Danville in conjunction with the National Charity League (NCL), Vista Oak chapter. Seniors and mother-daughter teams partnered to compete for the most creative cookie design.
"The  experience gave my daughter and me the chance to connect with others in our community, be social with the elderly, and help where it is needed," Catherine, NCL Member.
Stay tuned for more from our Intergenerational Program! For more information about the Friendly Visitors Program, please contact Cynthia Black at
cblack@mowsos.org or (925)239-2484.
|
|
A Habit of Giving
|
Donate to Celebrate 50 Years!
Marci is one of the volunteers who is helping to make our upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala a night to remember. We asked how she got involved in the Gala auction procurement committee. "I have been delivering meals for a number of years and the smiles and appreciation I get from almost every one of the clients brightens my day and gives me more purpose. It is of tantamount importance that MOWSOS programs continue. So by asking businesses to donate to the Gala, I feel like I am giving them an opportunity. The Claremont Hotel and Spa, the restaurants, stores and the pet photographer I asked were all happy to donate to such an important service."
Thanks to Marci and other auction committee members, we  are gathering a collection of stellar auction items including a sapphire diamond ring, a trip to Disneyland and luxurious getaways to Mendocino, Mexico, Southern Oregon and other exciting locales. You can place bids on adventures in the Sierra and for many special experiences including lunch with one of the Bay Area's favorite television basketball analysts, the Warriors' very own Jim Barnett!
We are still looking for other auction items. Can you help? As many of you have heard, Congress may vote to cut critical funding for seniors in the future. It is more important than ever that we make our 50th Anniversary a financial success. We hope you can help!
 Do you have a cabin or a time share or tickets to the Warriors that you can donate for us to auction off at our Gala? Know a local celebrity or sports figure? Have a connection with Pixar who can offer a tour of the film company? Do you have a friend who manages a restaurant and would like to make a donation?
Your gifts and support will bring smiles to the men and women who we are honored to serve. Your donations to our event and your attendance at the Gala will enable us to embark on the next 50 years of service to many in need throughout Contra Costa County.
Hope to see you at the Gala!!! Early bird tickets are available through March 4th!
Contact Sharon Fitzgerald, Nutrition Services Division Manager, at (925)891-4872 or
sfitzgerald@mowsos.org about joining our Procurement Team or donating an auction item.
Contact Tracey Blackmore, Volunteer Specialist, at (925)954-8736 or
tblackmore@mowsos.org to inquire about volunteering at our event or with planning.
Contact Susannah Meyer, Community Engagement Director, at (925)239-2487 or
smeyer@mowsos.org about other ways to help.
For more information, or to purchase tickets to our 50th Anniversary Gala, please click
here.
|
The annual March for Meals campaign commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older.
Since 2002, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.
On a local level, MOWSOS uses this opportunity to engage with community members of all ages through dignitary ride- alongs and an Intergenerational Community March. Stay tuned for more information!
To learn more about the March for Meals campaign, contact Susannah Meyer, Community Engagement Director, at (925)239-2487 or smeyer@mowsos.org.
|
In honor of American Heart Month, February is dedicated to raising
awareness of heart disease.
A few AARP.org components for a healthy heart include:
* Regular
exercise to raise your heart rate
* Better nutritional choices
* Soak up the sun for more Vitamin D
* More cuddles to reduce stress!
Click here for AARP.org article, "12 Tips to Prevent Heart Disease."
Click here to take AARP.org's "The Heart-Smart Menu Quiz."
|
On January 18th, Diablo Subaru of Walnut Creek awarded MOWSOS with a brand new Outback as part of Subaru USA's '50 Cars for 50 Years' campaign. From left to right, MOWSOS Community Engagement Director, Susannah Meyer, Nutrition Services Division Manager, Sharon Fitzgerald, and CEO Elaine Clark testing out the front seat! Photo courtesy of Robert Ikenberry. Click here to watch Elaine Clark drive out of the showroom with our new car.
Behind the scenes with our CEO, Elaine Clark, right, talking about Blossoms for Barbara with KTVU's Frank Mallicoat. Watch the interview
|
Alberto and Rosa, left, taking cente stage at a photoshoot with photographer Lisa Franklin and new Communications Specialist, Maricel Kinsella, far right.
|
Thank you to Weston Soto, left, and the rest of our friends at 24Hr HomeCare for a generous donation received by our CEO, Elaine Clark, right.
|
MOWSOS driver Steve Dulles, left, shared his experience with special guest, CSUEB nursing student Aaron Gardner on a recent ride-along.
|
Sandra and her cat Angelina enjoying their new lap blanket for naps and cuddles thanks to Barbara Leonard of Mt. Diablo Veterinary Medical Center.
|
Another happy cat-client thanks to the donation of quilts by Barbara Leonard of Mt. Diablo Veterinary Medical Center Sarah and her cat Angel are also loving their warm quilt.
|
Volunteer Specialist Tracey Blackmore, left, and NCL Rolling Hills Liaison, Connie Book, admiring the generous donation of scarves made by mothers and daughters of this NCL chapter.
|
Linda Karp, left, with Blossoms for Barbara making a special floral delivery to MOWSOS for a KTVU Ch 2 Valentine's Day feature story. Check out the KTVU interview here.
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
