JULY 2020

VISTE’s mission is to enable frail and elderly persons to remain safely and independently in their own homes. 

President's Message Hope Springs Eternal That proverb originated from an essay written by Alexander Pope in 1732 in which he states: “People always hope for the best, even in the face of adversity.” Over time, the cares of this world have cast doubt on this aspirational view of the human spirit. That is especially true for many elderly people living in today’s world who feel more vulnerable, isolated, and fearful than ever. READ MORE Client Story Ms. Willie Ester Lewis VISTE client, Ms. Willie Ester Lewis, lived alone in Lakeland for many years and appreciated receiving hot meals from VISTE, delivered by a friendly volunteer. Her daughter, Shirley Lewis Johnson, was living out of town at the time, as were other family members, but Willie wanted to stay in Lakeland in the house her husband had built for the family, and where her children were raised. READ MORE

VISTE Cares Campaign Update A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the VISTE Cares Campaign! Thanks to YOU, we reached our goal! Special thanks to the volunteers who helped pack and deliver the personal care boxes to clients, to the George Jenkins Foundation, and the T. Mims Corp. But the real winners are the 400 frail and elderly seniors who received the personal care boxes. We are so fortunate to live in such a generous and caring community – we literally could not have done this without YOUR support.

Leadership Update Chris Asbill, Board Chairman An enthusiastic VISTE supporter and volunteer for many years, Chris Asbill joined the Advisory Board in 2009, became a Board Member in 2016, was Vice Chair in 2018, and for the past two years has served as VISTE’s Board Chairman.  READ MORE

Volunteer Spotlight SEU Athletics Department As soon as most of the students left the campus of Southeastern University (SEU) to comply with COVID-19 requirements, the Athletics Department staff knew they needed a little something more than Zoom meetings. Athletic Director Drew Watson reached out to VISTE on behalf of the Department, and the group has stepped up to help VISTE in many ways. The SEU team has enabled VISTE to continue to provide services to our elderly clients in a safe and effective manner. READ MORE Development News Ways to Give It is coming up on a year that I have served as VISTE’s first Development Director. Of course, I could never have imagined how 2020 was going to unfold – none of us could. But one thing I learned from the first day I started is that VISTE has incredibly loyal donors. When the virus hit and the economy shut down, you came through with an overwhelming outpouring of love and support for VISTE clients, just when they needed you the most and just as you have done for the last 37 years. READ MORE

Would you like to make a difference in the life of a VISTE client? EMAIL JULIE or BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Important Volunteer Information Reminder: all volunteers must contact Julie McDonald at (863) 284-0828 or email [email protected] to be sure they are on the volunteer schedule so that we do not exceed the appropriate number of volunteers each day. 

Mission Moment "Thank You for the Food"

At VISTE we receive many calls and notes of thanks from clients, but this call was particularly poignant. We don’t have the name of the client, but her heartfelt message speaks for EVERY client – and is just one of the many reasons everyone associated with VISTE is committed to the clients we are honored to serve.

Donations often slow during summer months and that's particularly true this year. Your gift will help restock our shelves and ensure that seniors in need continue to receive food and other essential services. Thank you for your gift of caring and hope! DONATE TODAY

The need is great, but together we are greater than the need! 

VISTE Partners

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the generosity of our corporate and community partners. Here’s a spotlight on just a few!

CORPORATE PARTNERS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt agency. Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. State Registration #CH28. Federal ID #59-2625297 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.