Fall 2009 - Presbyterian Homes & Services

Dinner
Served
with a Side
of Kindness
Volunteers of Creative
Senior Dining make
mealtime a pleasure
for low-income diners.
Word of mouth is powerful, especially
when the talk is about good food and great
service. Word has it that Creative Senior
Dining and its volunteers are gaining a
reputation for both by serving warm smiles
alongside its signature entrees.
Creative Senior Dining (CSD) is a program
of Creative Independence, the home
health care service of Presbyterian Homes
& Services. By providing nutritious meals
to mostly low-income seniors 60 years
of age and over, CSD extends the PHS
mission of service beyond its sites and into
the larger community. Meals are delivered
weekly to clients’ homes or served daily
at one of 22 congregate lunch sites
throughout Ramsey, Dakota, Washington
and Hennepin Counties in Minnesota.
Ever since CSD
began in February 2009,
volunteers have
been vital to its success.
Neil Manimtim and Trudy von
Husen enjoy volunteering
together in the dining room at
Willowwood Senior Apartments.
Congregate Dining
Neil Manimtim, age 15 and Trudy von
Husen, who is in her mid 80’s, worked side
by side weekly this past summer as CSD
volunteers at Willowwood, a HUD senior
apartment community in White Bear Lake,
Minnesota. They set up and cleaned up,
greeted diners, and while serving dessert
and beverages, also served big helpings
of cheer.
Neil, son of Miravic Albindia, CSD dining
site director at Willowwood, was looking
for a summer activity; “Something to stay
busy” he admitted. Neil found that he
enjoyed working with older adults and
contributing to the community. “I’ve also
learned how to set a proper table,” he
beamed. Neil volunteered up to 16 hours
weekly. As he gallantly pulled a chair out
for a diner, it was apparent that she and
her neighbors enjoyed having him around.
“We’re going to miss him when school
starts again,” she lamented.
perspectives 11