Dear Friends,
When we think of first responders, we think of police and firefighters, but we also should include nonprofit staff and volunteers. At Meals on Wheels Diablo Region we are not dealing with the medical issues raised by COVID-19, but we are helping to meet the essential needs of those most at-risk. Delivering meals to seniors’ homes seems like a relatively simple act, by reading below you’ll learn just how complicated it can be.
Our first response effort would not be possible without the volunteers who have stepped forward to help us during this time. Every day they don masks and gloves and go into the community to deliver meals to those who depend on us. Thanks to partners like US Bank and Domino’s we can say a small “thank you” to those who help—because what is better after a long day of delivering meals than a free pizza?
Being sheltered at home reinforces how important it is we connect with others. At Meals on Wheels Diablo Region this need to be part of a community has highlighted the digital divide that exists for the people we serve. Most of us take for granted that we have a computer and the internet, but many of the seniors we serve cannot afford this connection when they need it most.
Thanks to the incredible support of donors and community partners, we are now able to help seniors bridge this divide so they can communicate with their family and friends during this time of social distancing.
We are privileged to be the first responders who carry out the work needed by the seniors we serve. Thank you for all you do to make that possible.
Sincerely,
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Caitlin Sly
Executive Director
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- Learn what it takes to get meals to our clients
- Meet Health & Wellness Specialist Mary Hanenburg
- Care Management connects a client through technology
- Paying it forward even in times of need
- Businesses recognize non-profit volunteers
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO DELIVER MEALS?
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Meals on Wheels Diablo Region keeps delivering meals directly to vulnerable seniors even with the COVID-19 crisis and we’re doing it without any disruptions! In fact, we are delivering to more than 40% more seniors in the county since shelter-in-place.
MOW Diablo Region’s Nutrition Services team works directly with the clients and families to determine eligibility and record pertinent information into the database, such as emergency and medical contacts, and sodium restrictions. The team then works to find an existing delivery route. If enough new potential clients live in the same geographic area, a new route is developed and if not they are placed on a waiting list.
Now the next important step is getting the meals delivered which requires recruiting, screening and training volunteers. When this process is complete, the Nutrition Services team matches the volunteer to a route in his or her geographic area and provides all the necessary and detailed paperwork. Some volunteers work only one day a week, so for one client, we often work with five different volunteers for one route, which can have as many as 17 clients on it!
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The Nutrition Services team keeps in contact with the clients and volunteers on a regular basis and makes needed adjustments daily. They are like air traffic controllers navigating each flight through crowded airspace!
Delivering meals to clients is a complicated and involved job in the best of times. With COVID-19, the challenges have multiplied, but MOW Diablo Region keeps delivering seven meals—enough for the whole week—to our vulnerable seniors so they can stay safe and healthy at home with dignity!
These are challenging times, but MOW Diablo Region continues to be that essential link that delivers meals to seniors without interruptions!
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MOW DIABLO REGION
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
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Meet Health & Wellness' Matchmaker Extraordinaire,
Mary Hanenburg
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MOW Diablo Region’s Health & Wellness Specialist Mary Hanenburg is well known to the senior clients and compassionate volunteers who participate in the Friendly Visitor and Friendly Caller programs. Her calm, welcoming demeanor and ability to create lasting matches has contributed to the program’s success.
With a background in health care and a special affinity for seniors, Mary welcomed the opportunity to join MOW Diablo Region five years ago. “I am inspired by seniors. The lives they’ve lived, and the things they still want to accomplish. We have several seniors who are 100 years old! Some are artists, athletes, activists, and even a gentleman who plays Santa each year.”
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Mary’s job has taken a slightly different focus as MOW Diablo Region has had to temporarily suspend the Friendly Visitors Program, but Mary and her colleagues on the Health & Wellness team have been working with the Friendly Visitors to transition them to Friendly Callers and even Friendly Helpers, and some have even found unique ways to stay connected with clients. “Because our Friendly Visitors are not able to visit seniors in their homes, many are calling their senior once or twice a week to keep in touch. Many are using Face Time, Zoom and Messenger video chats to connect,” explains Mary. “One volunteer takes a lawn chair and sits below the balcony and chats with her senior.”
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Mary’s typical day now involves communicating with her Friendly Caller volunteers, helping them solve problems, answering their questions, and also vetting potential new volunteers. She reaches out to seniors who have requested daily check-ins as they deal with social isolation due to the pandemic, and she occasionally goes grocery shopping or runs errands for seniors with no other resources. Mary also provides guidance to the newer members of the Health & Wellness team sharing her experience and insights with them as they work together to bring seniors an array of services that benefits their mind, body and soul.
Mary feels that MOW Diablo Region is still meeting the needs of clients and feels privileged to be providing a service to seniors. “When the COVID-19 crisis began it was difficult for our clients,” says Mary. “There was frustration, sadness and fear. But we quickly pivoted to make sure that they weren’t totally isolated. Having the Friendly Caller program really helps. Our seniors enjoy speaking with a person who is focused on them, someone who wants to learn about their life and their interests, a special friend who enjoys hearing that story or that joke that others have heard a 100 times. These conversations provide a personal connection.”
Mary still receives tremendous satisfaction from her job knowing that seniors continue to benefit from friendly phone calls. She encourages any senior who would like to be matched up to contact her at 925-357-9489.
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RESTORING VITAL CONNECTIONS
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
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Social isolation is not a new issue for many elderly people. Today with shelter-at-home mandates in place the issue is further exacerbated especially for those who aren’t familiar with technology or simply can’t afford it, like Brenda L.
At 63-years-old, Brenda suddenly found herself unemployed and quarantined with no cable or internet service. Feeling depressed and frightened, she contacted MOW Diablo Region’s Care Management team, a program that provides confidential guidance to older adults who are confronting problems with housing, elder abuse, depression, long-term care needs and other social service issues. A team member who spoke with Brenda said literally the only connection she had to the outside world was a little radio. “When I asked her why she hadn’t signed up for basic cable, she told me that she couldn’t afford it even when she was employed. She felt hopeless.”
Brenda’s situation was isolation in the truest sense, and Care Management knew they had to quickly find a solution. With some research they found that Comcast offers a special plan under their
Internet Essentials Program for seniors 62 and over that offers basic internet service for as low as $10 per month. Once approved, they can also take advantage of a program that allows them to purchase a computer or laptop for $149.99 plus tax.
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Barely getting by on unemployment, Brenda felt she still couldn’t afford it, but the Care Management team were able to secure funds allocated for the purchase of electronic equipment for seniors. Brenda will soon have a computer and basic internet service to keep her connected and help with her job search.
As we are forced to stay in our homes during the pandemic, we are gaining insight into what the daily life of an isolated elderly person living on their own can feel like. Feelings of loneliness are common and extreme isolation like the kind Brenda was facing can cause feelings of despair. MOW Diablo Region and the Care Management team continue to serve and empower older adults making sure they stay connected. If you or someone you know is experiencing problems, please visit
www.mowdiabloregion.org for more information.
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PAYING IT FORWARD EVEN IN TIMES OF NEED
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Four years ago, Kay Partain and her family lost their Brentwood home in a fire. As longtime residents and owners of an electric business in the area they were determined to stay in the community they loved and, with hard work they rebuilt their new home.
Two months ago, Kay suffered another loss. For twelve years she has worked as a hairdresser serving elderly residents in the memory care unit of a senior living community, but when COVID-19 restrictions were enacted, Kay was laid off. The layoff was not only sad for Kay who loves both her clients and her work, but it severely impacted her family’s livelihood. One of her clients was worried about her and sent Kay her regular $100 payment as a show of gratitude for “everything she does for us at the salon.”
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Kay was touched. Her family had faced tough times before and had come through it. She knew they would be fine now, too because they had each other. She also knew that there are seniors who are facing greater hardship and isolation and she decided to pay the gift of her kind client forward. Kay donated the $100 to Meals on Wheels Diablo Region.
Gifts like these go far to remind us that generosity and selflessness continue to thrive during these unprecedented and frightening times. Helping others even when we could use help allows us to make an impact, and when we live in a community where people help each other we’re all better off.
Thank you Kay for paying it forward. Your gift will surely impact a senior’s life.
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U.S. BANK AND DOMINO’S PIZZA
RECOGNIZE VOLUNTEERS
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We’d like to extend a BIG thank you to U.S. Bank and Domino’s Pizza! This week they honored volunteers from four nonprofits, including MOW Diablo Region with a free pizza give away. All total, 470 pizzas and 1,000 face masks were given out to selfless volunteers from the four nonprofits who are making life better for others during this stressful time.
We’d also like to thank
Walnut Creek Downtown and
Heritage Eats of Walnut Creek who treated our staff to lunch on Tuesday. We appreciate them stopping by the office and making sure that MOW Diablo Region employees are being fed while we work tirelessly to make sure seniors in our community are getting meals delivered!
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As we face COVID-19 together, the people we serve continue to be the most vulnerable. They are isolated and alone. Republic Services and an anonymous donor have stepped up to make sure that seniors are kept safe through a generous match.
Every gift made by you from now until June 15th will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,500.
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It’s important for older adults to protect their health
and stay physically and mentally active during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some tips from our Heath & Wellness team that can help you stay healthy and safe.
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© Meals on Wheels Diablo Region 2019. All rights reserved.
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region
1300 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596
United States
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