June 2011 Volume 5, Issue 1

N e w s l e t t e r o f M e a l s o n W h e e l s a n d M o r e

THE MEAL TIMES

DELIVERING FRIENDSHIPClients and volunteers find friendships through Meals on Wheels

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The first time Patty drove Rosie to a doctor’s appoint-ment, through the Meals on Wheels and More Medi Wheels program, she made a deci-sion. Any time Rosie needed a ride, she would provide it.

“I told her, ‘I have another appointment this week, but you can’t take me. [The program coordinator] said it was just supposed to be one ride per week,’” Rosie recalled. “And Patty just looked at me and said, “You let me worry about that.’”

Since then, Patty has been Rosie’s go-to person anytime she needs to visit the doctor. And through the course of it all the two women have become close, “like sisters.”

One special day when Rosie didn’t have a doctor’s appointment, Patty drove Rosie to the MOWAM headquarters so she could meet the Medi Wheels coordinator in person. The two women sipped tea in the lobby, held hands, and gushed over one anoth-er when prompted about their friendship.

“Patty has been one of the best friends I have ever had,” Rosie said. “I just fell in love with her. She doesn’t make me feel like I am taking advantage of her … and she’s a true friend. I’ve never had a friend like this before. I’ve had many friends, but I

When Mark Evans, 28, de-cided to volunteer for Meals on Wheels and More two years ago, he didn’t anticipate mak-ing new friends. “I did it just wanting to do something to help,” he said. “So this was kind of unexpected.”

The “this” that Mark refers to is his new-found friend-ship with 78-year-old Billie Herring, who has been on his meal delivery route from the very beginning. One day, when

Mark dropped off her meal, Billie asked him if he would like to come in and get acquainted. He said yes, and ever since then they’ve been swapping stories and sharing life advice.

In fact, Billie was there as Mark traveled through the dating and engagement stages of his relationship with his now-wife Tracy. When the two wed this spring, Billie was present at the wedding to raise a glass. “She heard about [Tracy] every week … and I am so glad she could come to the wedding,” he said. “She came, she stayed, she toasted.”

“She’s been a good example for me,” he continued. “She tells me stories and gives me advice. With marriage, she’s told me it’s not always easy, but that it’s a commitment that you stick with and take it day by day.”

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T o g e t h e r , w e c a n e n d s e n i o r h u n g e r i n C e n t r a l T e x a s .

“A WAY TO HELP”by Mayra Reyes

“My mom works at Meals on Wheels. She helps the elderly and people who don’t have money or food stamps. She also takes my sister and me to work with her, and we help by giving food

and presents to the [homebound]. Come work at Meals on Wheels and help the [homebound] and elderly. Don’t listen to what your boyfriend or your husband says. Just go help the [homebound] and elderly so that they can live their lives better.”

Printed in the Spring 2011 edition of “Rise: Youth Voices in Ink” from

Badgerdog Publishing.

VOLUNTEER FINDS TRAGEDY AT CLIENT’S HOMERecently, one of our volunteers encoun-tered a tragic situation at the home of two clients - a husband and a wife. Upon arrival at the house, the volunteer received no re-sponse from ringing the doorbell or calling, despite the fact that both of the clients’ vehicles were in the driveway.

Feeling that something was wrong, she went to the back of the house to investi-gate. There, she could hear the wife calling

for help through the back door. Looking through the window, she saw the wife, who was wheelchair-bound, lying on the floor. The volunteer made it into the house and found that the wife was trying to reach her husband, who had passed away in his bed.

The volunteer took the wife into the other room, called MOWAM to call 911, and waited with the wife until emergency responders and family members came to help.

We hope our volunteers don’t have to encounter situations like this while out on their routes, but wanted to share this story because it is a powerful reminder of how impor-tant our volunteers’ vigilance and attention are to the safety of those we serve.

Jonestown Art Installation Honors Seniors

“Living History,” a photo exhibit by our Jonestown Senior Center Site Director Kim Conley, was a tribute to the men and women who live in Jonestown and are active at the center. The exhibit featured several 4-foot-by-3-foot black and white photos of the men and women, which were hung in downtown Jonestown at City Hall, the Town Library, and the Travis County Community Center.

“For the last few years, I have been looking for a way to honor the seniors I have be-come so very fond of in my work with Meals on Wheels and More,” said Kim. “[This exhibit was] created to bring attention to the elders of this community and to honor the wisdom, the knowledge, and the humor that seniors bring to the places that they live.”

Course for Caregivers to be hosted at MOWAM

This fall, Meals on Wheels and More and Austin Groups for the El-derly are proud to offer a new 6 week

course for individuals who are caregiv-ers to loved ones in their lives. “Power-ful Tools for Caregivers” will begin in September or October. The class, spon-sored by the St. David’s Foundation, will meet weekly at Meals on Wheels and More’s Central Kitchen headquarters and will be free to adult caregivers. For more information, please call Marjorie Murphey-Camacho at 512-476-6325 x. 138, email her at mmcamacho@mealson-wheelsandmore.org or check our website for updates.

The Glenda Rogers Country Wheels ProgramRecently, we renamed our Country Wheels program in honor of Glenda Rogers, the former director of the Area Agency on Aging who played an integral role in helping us extend our service area so that we could reach individuals living in rural areas.

Gratitude• St. David’s Foundation for supporting Meals on Wheels and Second Meals; • The United Way of the Capital Area for awarding MOWAM a Community Investment Grant in support of the Meals on Wheels Program;• The Lola Wright Foundation for underwriting the cost of a new dishwashing machine;• Applied Materials Foundation for sponsoring an Adopt-a-Route and for having a volunteer meal delivery team;• The Charles H. Phipps Family Foundation for supporting Second Meals; • ONEOK, Inc. for supporting MOWAM’s building expansion;• The Donald D. Hammill Foundation for supporting Meals on Wheels;• The Junior League of Austin for selecting Care Calls and Groceries-to-Go as 2011-2012 Community Projects;• Emerson Process Management for sponsoring two Adopt-a-Days;• The Lowe Foundation for supporting MOWAM’s building expansion;• 3M Foundation for supporting Meals for Kids;• The Allstate Foundation Agency for granting Meals on Wheels and More a “Hands in the Community” grant;• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas for supporting Meals for Kids;• Banfield Charitable Trust for sponsoring the P.A.L.S. program

“The meal is good for the stomach, and the volunteer is good for the soul.” -- Myrtle P.

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Andrea Torres, Vice President for Devel-opment at Meals on Wheels and More, Larry Graham, Director of Customer Service for Texas Gas Service, and Dan Pruett, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels and More. Texas Gas Service is a division of ONEOK, Inc.

ONEOK, Inc. donates $20K to building campaign

4-year-old Donates her Piggy Bank Savings

Thanks to 4-year-old Elana Thanos (pic-tured above with Dan Pruett) for her re-cent generosity to Meals on Wheels and More! When Elana’s mom read an article to her from the last edition of “The Meal Times” about senior hunger, Elana imme-diately offered to donate the $20 she had saved in her piggy bank, which her mom generously matched. When asked why she decided to donate, she said, “Because people are hungry, and I want to help.”

Give Realty client benefits MOWAM with real estate

From left to right: Laurie Loew, Give Realty; Jeff Broussard, homebuyer; Andrea Torres, Vice President for Development at Meals on Wheels and More; Josh Flores, Team McClellan.

Golf Tournament Recap: Thanks for Playing!

Thanks to all of our sponsors and every-one who came out to our annual Meals on Wheels Golf Classic Tournament, which was held on Monday April 11, 2011 at the Lost Pines Hyatt Resort. The event raised $45,000 to provide food and other services to the homebound elderly and disabled members of our community! It was a beautiful day, and we are so grateful for everyone who participated!

Harden Healthcare team from left to right: Benjamin M. Hanson, General Counsel; Blake Robbins, Executive Direc-tor, Benevolent Fund; Eric Hansum, Director of Litigation.

Austin Restaurant Week raises money for MOWAMThanks to Austin Restaurant Week for selecting MOWAM as a co-beneficiary of the spring event, raising more than $2,500 for our clients!

Dear Friends,

It has been a busy spring here at Meals on Wheels and More, and as our community weathers the triple-digit temperatures of summer, undoubtedly the most dangerous time of year for our clients, I find myself feeling grateful for the wonderful commu-nity of volunteers and supporters we have here.

This newsletter contains a sad story about a volunteer who recently found one of our clients in a situation of great distress, unable to access help after her husband had passed away in their home. This volunteer was truly a saving grace for our client, as she was able to get in the home, call emergency assistance and sit with our client to comfort her until help had arrived.

Stories like this reinforce for me how important our volunteers are to this community. While we certainly never wish that any volun-teer would have to encounter a situation like this, I am humbled by the tremendous acts of kindness and caring that our volunteers show each and every day to the people in our city who need a help-ing hand.

Our donors do the same, providing much-needed financial support so that we can continue to serve people in a holistic manner. As I mentioned, the summer months are especially dangerous for our clients, as the heat causes health risks and complications for so many people that we serve. We want to say thank you to everyone who has reached out recently to donate to our air conditioner and utility assistance funds so that we can help people stay safe over the next few months.

To all of you who help us keep the wheels turning, you are so very appreciated.

Sincerely,

BOARD OF DIRECTORSEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tim Hayden, Board ChairBlue Clover

Ron Westbrook First Vice Chair

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Samuel Houston Secretary

D.R. Horton Homes

Michael C. Brown, Chair ElectTexas Capital Bank, N.A.

Rick YeomansSecond Vice ChairGraves Dougherty Hearon & Moody PC

Larry C. BuchTreasurerOffice of the Attorney General

Chris MaherFosforus

Nelson S. Robinson, Ed.D.Allstate Insurance Co.

Brian TuerffBBVA Compass Bank

Chris TaylorWhole Foods Market, Inc.

Meg YoungbloodMaxwell Locke & Ritter

Adam HauserBrown McCarroll, L.L.P.

Bob WynnOxford Commercial

B.J. Friedman, Ph.D.Texas State University

Vivian Renfro3M

Ben HansonHarden Healthcare, LLC

Norine YukonUnited Healthcare

Namkee Choi, Ph.D.University of Texas at Austin

MANAGEMENT TEAMDan Pruett

President and CEO

Michael H. GoldsteinVice President, Public Policy &

Advocacy

Andrea TorresVice President, Development

Marsha WierVice President,

Human Resources

Larry Cosper, C.P.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Theresa MedlinVice President, Volunteer Services

Mary Z. TeetersVice President, Client Services

Linda PerezAssistant Vice President, Client Services

DAN’S CORNER

Stewart Whitehead, Immediate Past ChairWinstead PC

Dan PruettMeals on Wheels and More

Medi Wheels Volunteers neededMedi Wheels volunteers provide rides to the doctors for clients who are unable to transport themselves. It’s a flexible volunteer opportunity -- you can sign up only for appointments that fit your weekday schedule between

9am and 3pm. If you are available to help, please call the Medi Wheels Coordinator at 512-476-6325, Ext. 122.

Handy with a Drill?We’re looking for handy people to help install bath-room safety bars in our clients’ homes this sum-mer. If you’re good with a drill and want to help keep

seniors safe in their homes this summer, please contact our Handy Wheels coordi-nator Kristin Organ at korgan@mealson-wheelsandmore.org or call 512.476.6325 and ask for Handy Wheels.

Substitute Drivers NeededSummer months always bring volunteer cancella-tions, as people leave town for much-needed family, work or school vacations.

During the summer, we rely heavily on substitute drivers to help us fill last-min-ute cancellations. Substitutes are contact-ed on an as-needed basis between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. If you can help, please call us at 476-6325 today!

T o g e t h e r , w e c a n e n d s e n i o r h u n g e r i n C e n t r a l T e x a s .

Mayor Lee Leffingwell volun-teers for Mayors for Meals!

MOWAM IN BRIEF

Help Keep Someone Cool this Summer

Austin is on the thaw after a chilly winter, and it’s time to switch gears

so we can help our clients stay cool this summer! If you’re able to donate a new fan or air conditioner, please let us know. Give us a call at 476-6325.

WAITING LIST INCREASESHundreds of Seniors Waiting for Meal Services

Since Meals on Wheels and More created a waiting list for our home-delivered meal program in June 2010, the number of people on the list has doubled.

A dramatic increase in the need for home delivered meal services in the Austin community necessitated Meals on Wheels and More to create a waiting list for meal services last summer. Reductions in state funding this year are expected to further impact the waiting list.

“We are getting many calls from people who are finding themselves in desper-ate situations with nowhere to turn,” said Dan Pruett, CEO and President of Meals on Wheels and More. “So many people in our community are suffering alone and in silence, and we need more people to step up to the plate and make a commitment to help their neighbors who are struggling with hunger.” MOWAM case workers actively monitor the conditions of those on the waiting list to ensure that those most in need are the first to receive services.

Scan this code to see our latest

PSA about our waiting list needs.

Thanks to Mayor Lee Leffingwell for joining hundreds of mayors across the country in the annual Mayors for Meals event! On Wednes-day, March 23rd, Mayor

Leffingwell delivered meals to several of our clients, including Miss Ora C. pictured here.

Longtime client Manuel D. shows off just one of many sculptures he’s made using the milk cartons he gets with his daily meals!

Manuel the Milk Carton Artist

To celebrate the contributions our good friend Ron Lantz has made to our orga-nization through his involvement with the University Rotary Club, we have re-cently named one of our clients’ favorite dishes in his honor. From now on, the meatloaf will be hereby called the Ron Lantz Meatloaf. Thanks, Ron, for all you do for our community!

Behold! The Ron Lantz Meatloaf!

Our New Website is Live!

Recently, we made many design refreshments and navigation improvements to our website, and we hope you will stop by to visit us at www.mealsonwheel-sandmore.org. And thanks to our team at Trademark Media!

Brigid Shea: “I get as much out of it as the clients do”

Former City Councilwoman Brigid Shea with her son Charlie, 12, and their dog Chewy. Charlie and Chewy often accompany Brigid on her MOWAM meal-delivery route.

Brigid Shea, a former city councilwoman, started volunteering at MOWAM five years ago after being introduced to the organization by former mayor Kirk Watson , who arranged for her to get a tour of the Meals on Wheels and More build-ing.

She really liked the mission, and signed up as a volunteer that day. “I have never had the sense that I am performing a charity,” said Brigid. “I get as much out of it as the clients do.”

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While they exchange genuine confidenc-es, Billie and Mark’s friendship also has a lighter side. “Mark really goes the extra mile,” Billie said. “He’ll usually open the bags [of food] and put the cold stuff in the fridge for me.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty hard work,” Mark deadpanned. “Sometimes she makes me put seed in the bird feeders, so she really works me like a slave.”

Billie, a retired librarian and library sci-ences professor from the University of Texas, says she’s happy for the friendship. “I’m very grateful to get a nutritious meal everyday,” she said. “It takes a burden off me … and it’s been real nice getting to know Mark. I look forward to Mondays, because I know he’ll be coming. We just visit for a few minutes, but it’s been very good for me.”

“Billie and Mark” continued...

More Mike’s Place Fun!

“Rosie and Patty” continued...

Mike’s Place has had a busy spring! From left to right: Participants got to interact with some furry friends when a baby animal petting zoo came to visit; tap

dancers from local group “Class Act” stopped by for a performance; and Mickey and Minnie Mouse made

an appearance on Mouseketeers Day!

Meet Mattie & join us online!Our client Mattie talks about how much MOWAM

means to her and you can sign up for our E-News and join us on

Facebook!

Letters from Loved OnesA daughter shares her gratitude with us

The daughter of a client who was in desperate need of help recently sent these two letters - first to request services and then to let us know how these services made a difference.

Letter One:“Recently, I moved my father to Austin after he had a long bout in the hospital in another state. He has serious health issues and suffers from severe depression. He currently weighs 128 pounds. He has no energy or ability to make himself any meals. The idea of him getting at least one nutritious, hot meal a week brings tears to my eyes. I pick him up to come and stay with me every other weekend, but I have just had a baby and can’t do much more than that right now. He lives alone and he is unable to drive in his current condition. Disability is his only form of income. Please let me know what we can do to get him in the program.”

Letter Two:“Thank you so much for getting my father in the program so quickly. I just spoke to him and he sounds wonderful! I think just seeing a face everyday is very uplifting to him. He says the meals are very good and he’s eating EVERY bite, he promises me. I can’t really tell you what this means to me and my family. I’m so grateful that your program exists. I can’t wait for his next weigh in at the doctor’s – a million thank yous!”

don’t think there is anything I could ask her to do for me that she wouldn’t do it.”

Patty humbly waved away Rosie’s praise, but emphatically agreed that the two women have something special. “I just love it,” she said of her volunteer experi-ence.

Patty’s enthusiasm has even inspired Rosie to follow suit. She learned about our Care Calls program and signed up to be a phone friend.

“I’ve gotten older and more problems have developed, so I am not as up to snuff like I used to be, and this lady here calls me for no reason!” she said. “I love her, I really love her. I say all the time God sent her. People don’t want to hear that, but I have faith and believe God is in this right here.”

“I’ve supported Meals on Wheels for a number of years, but I never thought about needing the

service for myself. Thank you.”