Fall 2011 - Presbyterian Homes & Services

In the St. Croix Valley, over 250 households
participate in Senior Dining Choices
home delivered meals. Volunteers like Al
Roettger keep the program sustainable
by offering their time and vehicle. “I look
forward to this every week,” said the
retired trucker and lifelong Stillwater,
MN resident. Every Tuesday, Al picks up
hot meals from Raymie Johnson Senior
Center in Oak Park Heights, MN to deliver
along his 21-mile route. He also provides
important social contact. “I usually chat
with folks for a while,” he said, “I may
be the only person they see all day.”
When Al arrives at the home of Helen
Low who lives alone in her Stillwater
apartment, she opens the door to a trusted,
friendly face and a fresh hot meal. Al helps
Helen set her table and checks around,
asking if there’s anything else she needs.
“I can usually tell if there’s a problem,”
he observes. Helen appreciates the daily
contact as well as the tasty meal. “It’s as
good as if it came from my own kitchen,”
she remarked.
“Volunteers like Al serve as ambassadors
for the program,” commented Jeremy
Misener, Volunteer Coordinator. Misener
oversees nearly 100 regular and substitute
volunteer drivers who cover 24 weekly
frozen meal routes and 5 daily hot meal
routes. Staff and volunteers also provide
personal attention and a weekly check-in
for every client. This includes assistance
with storing the meals, and instructions
how to open and heat their meals. Daily
check-ins and meal preparation assistance
are also available for those who need or
desire more support. “Our volunteers do
more than deliver meals,” Misener said.
“They’re checking in on people. If they
notice something wrong, they let us know
so we can arrange follow-up with the
appropriate expertise needed to respond.”
Misener is actively seeking individual
volunteers and groups to serve as the
program grows. “It’s ideal for local
churches and organizations who want to
make a positive impact in the community,”
he said. Hagstrom confirms Misener’s call
for more volunteers. In 2010 the program
served 500,000 meals to over 5,000 older
adults in Washington, Ramsey, Hennepin
and Anoka Counties. Nearly 10,000 meals
were delivered to participants eligible
for Title III Federal Older Americans Act.
Hagstrom expects to double the volume
by the end of 2011, increasing the need
for more equipment, more volunteers and
more funding.
“It’s like we’re cooking for our family at home.”
Lisa Ekiyor, Commissary Kitchen Director.
“Time and again the local philanthropic
community has responded to projects that
enhance the daily lives of older adults,”
said Steve Preus, Fund Development
Director for Presbyterian Homes
Foundation. Response from the St. Croix
Valley for the commissary kitchen project
has been especially generous. Major gifts
from the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen
Foundation and the Margaret Rivers Fund
made the commissary kitchen possible.
“However, with the anticipated demand,
we will need additional support from
individuals and want to continue our work
with foundations,” Preus appeals. Every
$100 gift is equivalent to approximately 20
healthy prepared meals. For an older adult
this represents nearly a month’s worth
of nutritious meal choices that enhance
their daily experience and enable them to
maintain their independence.
To support Senior Dining Choices and the
commissary kitchen project, contact Steve
Preus at 651-631-6106 or email at
spreus@preshomes.org. Individuals and
groups may volunteer by contacting
Jeremy Misener at 651-631-6370 or email
jmisener@preshomes.org.
~ Cynthia L. Ray
perspectives 9