VNA's annual Holiday Gift Project kicks off on Thursday, August 9^th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the VNA Haggerty Center (1440 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas 75247) with the “Holiday in August” gift wrap party. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join us as we wrap full-size toiletry items and decorate gift bags that will be delivered to VNA Meals on Wheels clients and Hospice patients in December. Donations of wrapping paper and full-size toiletry items are welcome – shampoo, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, bar soap, washcloth, and adult-size white tube socks. August is a great time to do holiday gift shopping as you can take advantage of all those “back to college” sales at retailers like Target and Walmart!

If you’d like to join us at “Holiday in August”, RSVP to Kim Peters at (214) 689-2210 or petersk@vnatexas.org. We only have so much floor space, so RSVPs are limited to the first 120 volunteers! Feel free to wear your Santa hats and holiday t-shirts, and enjoy some holiday tunes while dreaming of cooler weather!

Thanks to donations from local businesses, like Central Market, Sysco North Texas Inc., Nestle, and VNA employees, bottled water will be distributed at all meal drop sites through the end of August.  We greatly appreciate your help delivering meals this summer when the temperatures soar. Please stay hydrated during your deliveries and grab a bottle before you leave your drop site. If you would like to donate water, please feel free to drop it off at the VNA Meals on Wheels office (1440 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas 75247) between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. All sizes and brands are welcome. You can also donate online via the following links:

VNA website
http://bit.ly/2A04GRZ

VNA Texas Amazon Wish List
https://amzn.to/2JAg5qO

April joined the VNA Meals on Wheels team in 2011. VNA was her entry into the nonprofit world, and has been a perfect fit for this community-minded young woman. As Case Coordinator, April responds to telephone calls and emails from prospective clients, family members, and representatives from other health and social service agencies who believe meal service will be of benefit to their patients and clients. Through a telephone assessment, April identifies the appropriate funding source for prospective clients, completes a nutritional risk assessment to identify the individual’s level of food insecurity, and then monitors them during their meal service, including reassessment for meal service from year to year. As the senior population grows rapidly, April has seen the number of daily inquiries double since last year.

April shares that her favorite part of working at VNA is the contact with our clients – “they inspire me, humble me, encourage me, and challenge me. They remind me to think of others, have compassion for humanity, and be thankful for what I have.” Over the years, April has internalized VNA’s mission of helping people age with dignity and independence. Every day she has the opportunity to serve as a voice of hope for the most vulnerable seniors in our community.

To refer a senior for meal service, please contact April at (214) 689-2268 or burnsa@vnatexas.org.

Jack and Jill, Northeast Dallas Chapter
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. was started in January 1938 when 20 mothers came together to discuss creating an organization to provide social, cultural and educational opportunities for youth between the ages of 2 and 19. This membership organization is dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and civic duty.

The Northeast Dallas Chapter of Jack and Jill serves the communities northeast of Dallas including Garland, Allen, Plano, Rowlett, Rockwall, Sachse, Wylie, and Murphy. As a VNA Meals on Wheels volunteer partner for five years, group coordinators Mikaia Mellanise and Brea Griffith have led this fun, dedicated group in delivering meals, making healthy snack bags, assembling shelf stable emergency meals, and running toiletry donation drives to support the Holiday Gift Project.

Thank you for supporting VNA Meals on Wheels! We appreciate your partnership and always look forward to hearing from you – (214) 689-2639 or volunteer@vnatexas.org.