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].
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