Even before proposed cuts to the Meals on Wheels program, residents of The Arbors at Greenfield supported the program. “We have been fundraising for Meals on Wheels for about 5 years,” says Cheryl Fisher, activities director at Arbors at Greenfield.
What does Meals on Wheels do?
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to homebound seniors 60 and older who are unable to prepare a nutritionally balanced meal and are unable to attend congregate hot lunches. Volunteers share conversation with participants and perform a wellness check for those who are alone during the day. Not only does the program improve quality of life through increased nutrition and socialization, it lowers government costs by reducing the need of participants for hospitals, nursing homes and other services. “Home-delivered meal programs improve diet quality and increase nutrient intakes among participants. These programs are also aligned with the federal cost-containment policy to rebalance long-term care away from nursing homes to home- and community-based services by helping older adults maintain independence and remain in their homes and communities as their health and functioning decline,” notes one study. The local agency which delivers meals, formerly called Franklin County Home Care, is now called LifePath.
The Arbors at Greenfield raises funds for Meals on Wheels
“We fundraise for Meals on Wheels because the elders are a large part of our community. We look at it as seniors helping seniors. For some, the only visitor they might have each day is the Meals on Wheels volunteer to deliver their meal,” Cheryl remarks. The Arbors at Greenfield participates in fundraising efforts that include the annual Meals on Wheels Walkathon in April, as well as donating monies raised from their craft/bake sale in November. Cheryl explains: “We (staff members) started out just doing the walk for Meals on Wheels and had people sponsor us so much per mile, and that money was donated to the walk. We also donate money earned from the bake sales we have in November, which is combined with our craft fair. “I bake with the residents the entire week before the craft fair, and (The Arbors at Greenfield) staff here also contribute to the bake sale. We have quite a variety of baked goods to sell.” In February, residents of The Arbors at Greenfield made “Love Letters” for Meals on Wheels recipients. “The Love Letters are actually handmade Valentine’s Day cards for each recipient who receives a meal from LifePath. We made cards for them last year, and I set a goal for us at 250. This year, I set a goal of 275, and we surpassed that by about 175. We brought 450 Valentine’s Day cards (Love Letters) to them,” Cheryl says. __________________ I helped make the “Love Letters” because I wanted to bring some happiness into someone’s life and let them know we care! －Kathi, resident of The Arbors at Greenfield __________________ Marcus Chiaretto, community outreach coordinator at LifePath, says the 450 valentines from The Arbors at Greenfield residents were “enough to guarantee that nearly every individual in our Meals on Wheels program received a card! I can’t thank the staff and residents of The Arbors enough for their support.” Last year, The Arbors at Greenfield presented a check for $396 to LifePath for the Meals on Wheels program. Staff members collected donations by riding bikes from Westfield to Chicopee, making stops at Greenfield and Amherst. Cheryl says she’s proud of the efforts of the residents of The Arbors at Greenfield. “The residents of the Greenfield Arbors have very generous spirits!” Residents of The Arbors at Greenfield, like those at all of our communities, enjoy helping others while having a good time.