By Kiki Serantes Mollie Dalpae was not even in grade school when she started volunteering with her grandmother, who belonged to the nonprofit Sunshine Club. The club provided services to what they referred to as "shut-ins," assisting community members in convalescent homes.
"That was at a time when convalescent homes were really pretty bad," Mollie said, referring to the noted poverty the homes faced. "I learned a lot about caring for other people." Young Mollie would travel to the homes with the ladies of the Sunshine Club, checking on the residents while bringing them food and blankets — much like Meals on Wheels Spokane does today. "I know, though, that [giving back to the community was a part of life," Mollie said. "That's just what you did." Being raised by and volunteering with her grandma inspired Mollie to be an active social servant in the community decades later. Though she was content, life changed for Mollie after her grandmother passed away. "I didn't have an elderly person in my life — I felt so lost and empty," Mollie said. She was studying at San Jose State University to become a wine chemist when she discovered the field of gerontology. "I was like 'I can get a degree in something that is such an important part of my life?' " Mollie said. She immediately switched majors after the realization and has dedicated her life to intergenerational service ever since. It would take her nine years to graduate, but she has not regrets. Mollie has advanced the Meals on Wheels Spokane mission and its services for almost 10 years. In fact, the program's 2017 50th anniversary doubles as Mollie's 10th anniversary as its director. "People hear about Meals on Wheels Spokane and they think food — we bring food, but we do so much more," Mollie said. "We provide blankets in the winter, fans in the summer. We have the pen-pal program, we have Friend-to-Friend and we have a pet food program." Mollie will expand Meals on Wheels Spokane services even more come January, when they plan to roll out an educational engagement program. The program will provide the opportunity for visiting nurses, pharmacy students, and occupational and physical therapists to visit homebound seniors, as well as work directly on-site in the senior center. "Do we feed them? Absolutely, and it's delicious good," Mollie said. "But we really work hard to make sure they're in their home safely and that they know we care about them." As far as the future goes — Mollie is eager to tackle potential challenges and keep growing the program. "I don't do well with maintaining — I like change," Mollie said. "I like to see what else is out there we can do." Mollie said expansion of services is based on annual surveys sent out to seniors. She's a huge advocate for fostering community connections. If another Spokane nonprofit already offers services in a requested area, Mollie refers clients to them rather than spearheading new programs internally. Without federal funding, a vital focus for Mollie as director is growing Meals on Wheels Spokane's endowment. The endowment will directly help seniors like Helen, whose life was nearly saved by Meals on Wheels Spokane volunteers when they found her lying on her kitchen fall after a nasty fall that broke her bones. When Mollie asked Helen if she was scared, the senior's response both surprised and comforted her. "She said 'No, I just looked at my clock and I knew my girls — how she would refer to her volunteers — would be here at 11:30," Mollie said. "It's comforting to know that we're going to bring you a meal and that we'll see you that day," she said. "But how sweet that she didn't panic, she wasn't afraid. What comfort we gave her knowing that we'd be there—her 'girls.' " Mollie encourages all who are able to volunteer--not only because of the joy it brings to the seniors, but because of the meaning it brings to the lives of the volunteers as well.
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By Kiki Serantes For Donna and Bob Boyd, volunteering with Meals on Wheels Spokane is a couple's affair. The two have helped MOW Spokane homebound seniors for more than two decades, and still haven't managed to get sick of each other after being married 31 years.
"He's my best friend, I couldn't imagine doing it with anyone else," Donna said. For Donna, volunteering with MOW Spokane is more than a couple thing—it's a family tradition. Her dad started helping with deliveries back in the '70s, when meals were still prepared at Gonzaga University. "Volunteering at Meals on Wheels Spokane was a natural for me," she said. The couple met at Avista when it was still Washington Water Power. Donna had worked there for just under a decade before Bob was hired on and the rest is history. "We met each other, dated for about a year and a half, and fell in love and got married," Donna said. After the couple had been married for about a year, they decided it would be best if Donna stayed home rather than continue working. "Then I could travel with him on business trips and volunteer and do some things that I'd always wanted to do," Donna said. At first, Bob would sub for volunteer drivers here and there, considering he still had a full-time job. It seems like together, the two make quite the dynamic volunteering duo. "I'd drive and she deliver," Bob said matter of factly, but with a smile on his face. It was enough of a working partnership that the couple stills enjoys volunteering decades later, while looking forward to their weekly Friday date nights. "I was involved for almost 10 years before he retired," Donna said. "He and I have been volunteering for the better part of 20 years." For 17 of the 20 years that Bob was involved with Meals on Wheels Spokane, he coordinated the volunteers from their church. The couple still has a five-pound coordination binder as proof of their history with MOW Spokane. Among many achievements, Bob was able to get Meals on Wheels Spokane going at Avista. Advancing Meals on Wheels Spokane to Avista made finding volunteers at times when subs were needed extremely easier. As far as the Boyds are concerned, they plan on volunteering with MOW Spokane for as long as they'll let them. They said that one of the greatest feelings of all is knowing that you're there for someone who may not have any other social interactions throughout the day. "You knew that when you're delivering the meals to the seniors, who often can't even leave their homes, that that might be the only good meals they've eaten the whole day," Bob said. The Boyd's story and love perfectly resonates with the MOW Spokane upcoming Cinn-A-Gram fundraiser. Goodie bags filled with two fresh Cinnabons, Roast House coffee, Moon Creek caramel, Dove chocolates, Red River Golden Trail Mix and a mug are purchased and delivered with a special message to your Valentine. If buying a Cinn-A-Gram isn't enough for your Valentine, then offer the gift of becoming MOW Spokane's next volunteer legacy couple. To learn more about Cinn-A-Gram or how to volunteer, email us at [email protected]. By Kiki Serantes
For more than 50 years, local firefighters have brought holiday cheer to Spokane families by dashing through neighborhoods on Santa's sleigh. But Spokane Firefighter Union IAFF Local 29 will lend the sleigh's use in a giving light when five volunteers dash through the snow delivering presents and hot meals to seniors in need this week.
Equipped with a professional Santa Claus and a sleigh attached to a flatbed Chevy, Spokane Firefighter Union IAFF Local 29 is delivering hot meals on Wednesday, Dec. 14 around noon and presents on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 11AM. It's the third year in a row that the unit is helping bring holiday cheer to Meals on Wheels Spokane homebound seniors. Dave Kovak, a 19-year Spokane firefighter, joined the unit four years ago. After hearing colleagues' stories, Dave said he's excited to participate in the annual event for the first time. "It's a really neat event, to watch their faces when we come up," Dave said. "They're expecting their usual Meals on Wheels Spokane delivery, but they're not expecting it from Santa. It really makes their day." The presents being delivered are part of MOW Spokane's Tree of Sharing event, where each senior is asked what they want for Christmas months before the holiday. MOW Spokane, which doesn't receive federal funding, surprises the seniors with the gifts they wished for. Having a gift delivered by a normal deliverer is good enough, but having it delivered by Santa Claus himself is something else entirely. "We've been a contributor to Meals on Wheels Spokane for quite a while," Dave said. "We're always looking for events that we can partner with local charities in, to just get out into the community and to be a good community partner." The union also participates in MOW Spokane's annual Cinn-A-Gram fundraiser, where people throughout Spokane and Coeur d'Alene purchase a Cinn-A-Gram stuffed with Cinnabons, Roast House Coffee, Rock Creek Caramels, Dove Chocolate and more! MOW Spokane delivers the treats to the purchaser’s Valentine’s and Spokane Firefighter Union IAFF Local 29 helps by delivering some of the Cinn-A-Grams on various routes. MOW Spokane thanks Spokane Firefighter Union IAFF Local 29 for its continued contributions. If you're interested in volunteering or learning more about this and other MOW Spokane events, please email [email protected] or call (509) 232-0864. |
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