October 2019 Newsletter

Issue 7 / Volume 10

October 2019

www.mowdiabloregion.org

Dear Friends:

The blackouts this past week created a scary situation for home bound seniors.

In the words of one volunteer driver, “Most of the elderly clients on my delivery list don’t know what’s going on. The thought hasn’t even crossed their minds that they need some water and basic food and that the refrigerator might shut off for a few days and the food might go bad.”

Fortunately, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s staff and volunteers were prepared. In spite of blackouts at many of their own homes, all of our drivers continued to show up with food, flashlights, and a message: We are here for seniors!

No matter what the circumstances, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is here to help seniors. If you’re inspired by that mission, know that we are always looking for volunteer drivers! You can learn more about this important calling by visiting our volunteer page here:

And read below for these stories:

How MOWDR helped clients affected by the power shutoffs (...and made national news!)
The search for a new Executive Director
Annual report snapshot of MOWDR’s activities this year
A Girl Scout who shares her love of reading with isolated seniors
How those freebie calendars in your mailbox can help seniors

Thanks for caring about your neighbors! Together we are helping seniors every day!

Carrie Blanding

Interim Executive Director

MOWDR GOES INTO ACTION TO KEEP CLIENTS SAFE IN FACE OF POWER SHUTOFFS

MOWDR volunteer explains potential power outage to senior woman.

Last week MOWDR was forced to spring into action in anticipation of sweeping power outages across the Bay Area. Many of our Contra Costa County clients were caught off guard and did not know about the extended power shutoffs or how they would be impacted, and those that did weren’t necessarily ready. The Meals on Wheels team quickly mobilized with the goal of keeping deliveries going for as long as possible and conducting daily welfare checks even if the power went out.

Volunteers were notified that it was business as usual and went the extra mile to help clients secure flashlights and explain security precautions like watching for food spoilage. “We had asked our volunteers to report in even if we had no power and no food to deliver, so that we could still do the welfare check that we typically do when we deliver food,” Nancy Raniere, Nutrition Services Division Manager said in an interview with PBS News Hour. "All 63 of our volunteers came in, even though many lacked power at their own homes."

On Wednesday, KPIX reporter John Ramos joined MOWDR volunteer driver Dean Langston on a televised ride along. As they rode from one client's home to another Dean talked about his biggest concerns. “Most of the elderly clients on my delivery list don’t know what’s going on. The thought hasn’t even crossed their minds that they need some water and basic food and that the refrigerator might shut off for a few days and the food might go bad.”

In anticipation of rolling outages and other natural disasters, MOWDR has been delivering emergency packs that contain six, shelf-stable meals to all of our clients.

Leading up to last week’s power shutdown, drivers helped their clients move the packs to accessible places in their homes and have started keeping lists of people who may have medical needs during electric outages.

In an interview with the Washington Post, volunteer driver Michelle Bellows summed up MOWDR’s commitment to our clients, “Part of the message that I wanted to deliver to them is that Meals on Wheels will keep coming. They can count on us! Every day that we normally come we will keep coming, whether the power is on or not.”

Over 1,000 emergency packs have been delivered to clients in recent months in anticipation of the power outages.

OUR SEARCH FOR THE NEW

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS UNDERWAY!

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has launched a search for a new Executive Director. Over the past months we have utilized the expertise of qualified interim leadership to refresh our systems and prepare for the future. Our search has just launched,and we hope to announce a new E.D. by the end of the year. If you know a great candidate please direct them to our career page. The full job posting may be downloaded here. Applications are being accepted until October 20.

LOOK OUT FOR OUR FY 2018/19 ANNUAL REPORT SNAPSHOT - HITTING MAILBOXES SOON

Look for your copy in the mail

or download a copy here .

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is pleased to publish our Fiscal Year 2018/19 Annual Report Snapshot. We have achieved outstanding success in delivering wrap around support for seniors and have maintained operations through a transition period, reflecting the hard work and dedication of the MOWDR team.

The report highlights several of our key milestones, and illustrates how as a team, and an organization we've flourished by:

Continuing to offer whole person support through six successful service divisions
Introducing technological innovations to further improve our wrap around services
Expanding meal delivery in under served areas
Looking toward future growth under new leadership

We could not do this life-saving work without you, our valued supporters. Thank you for standing firm with us in this crucial work.

A GIRL SCOUT AMBASSADOR SHARES HER LOVE OF READING WITH ISOLATED SENIORS

Jessica Chan is a Girl Scout Ambassador on a mission to brighten the lives of isolated seniors with books.

Girl Scouts who earn the Gold Award tackle issues that are dear to them. The award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and can lead to preferred admission tracks for college and scholarships. The Gold Award is awarded to fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts annually and each Girl Scout spends 1-2 years on her project.

When Girl Scout Ambassador, Jessica Chan, began to think about the project that will eventually earn her the highly coveted Gold Award, she looked inward at the things that bring her joy and satisfaction. An avid reader, Jessica felt that books were the key to help her bring change to her community and make lives better. After researching different groups she realized that many of MOWDR's home bound clients probably don't have access to libraries. She decided that she could partner with MOWDR's meal delivery division to bring isolated seniors the gift of reading.

Read more about Jessica's book drive project here.

TOO MANY FREEBIE CALENDARS LYING AROUND?

OUR CLIENTS CAN USE THEM!

If you have an insurance policy or have recently worked with a real estate agent you may have received a free promotional calendar or two. Instead of throwing the extras in the recycle bin please consider donating them to MOWDR.

In the weeks leading up to the holidays volunteers deliver the calendars to our clients along with their regular meal. They are very happy to get them and look forward to them every year!

You can bring the calendars to our Nutrition Services office at 1300 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek until December 13.

Welcome to the Meals on Wheels Diablo Region family of volunteers! Click here to see the list of our newest volunteers.

During the power shutoffs last week MOWDR received some special local and national coverage! Click here to view stories by KPIX Channel 5, The Washington Post and PBS News Hour.

Seniors are experiencing all kinds of health benefits through our Tai Chi classes! Be sure to also check out the October schedule for our Health & Wellness activities.

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Meals on Wheels Diablo Region

1300 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596

United States

mowdiabloregion.org