More Than a Meal, Volunteers Are a Life-Line for Seniors

George has been a client with Meals on Wheels for more than two years. One weekend the unthinkable happened. Standing up from his couch, Mr. Kelley reached for his walker, but missed and fell down. Unable to get up, it would be another two days before a Meals on Wheels volunteer found him while delivering his meal. In his words, "I felt like the luckiest man on earth to hear the sound of Meals on Wheels at the door!" Click the picture above to watch his incredible story.

5 Reasons to Use the VNA Meals on Wheels Mobile App

The launch of the VNA Meals on Wheels Mobile App is quickly approaching, and we could not be more excited. You might be asking yourself, “Why should I use the mobile app?” We’re glad you asked! Here are our top 5 reasons you should use the mobile app when it is released in mid-March.

1. Navigate with ease. No more plugging in addresses into Google Maps – the VNA Meals on Wheels Mobile App will do the work for you!

2. Quickly communicate feedback or concerns. As a VNA Meals on Wheels volunteer, you are the eyes and ears for our clients. Through the mobile app, you will be able to quickly communicate client feedback or concerns with the press of a button.

3. Go paperless! With the mobile app, you will have all the information you need to deliver your meals! While we will still provide paper manifests at the drop site, you will have the opportunity to go paperless with the mobile app.

4. View your routes before the day of delivery. Before delivery days, you will be able to preview your upcoming route so that you know what to expect.

5. It’s fun! The mobile app is designed to be extremely simple and user friendly. It even includes shortcuts like swiping rows to mark meals as delivered and undelivered!

Stay tuned for more mobile app communications in the coming month! As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please email volunteer@vnatexas.org or visit our Help Page at https://volunteer.vnatexas.org/help.

Deliver Meals on Wheels This Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is a great celebration of love. Instead of worrying about what to give your special someone, spread the love by volunteering together over a lunch date to support the seniors of Meals on Wheels. Visit https://www.volunteer.vnatexas.org to get started.

A Season of Love

As Valentine’s Day nears, I am reminded of how vital authentic human connection is for our emotional, spiritual and physical health.  Most of us are fortunate to have daily interaction with our loved ones.  For those who are alone, this longing impacts their spirits and health.  That is why I am so thankful for each of you and the VNA team who deliver joy and the gift of human connection to our homebound neighbors each day.

As many of you have experienced, we deliver more than a meal, but also a connection to the outside world.  In the words of beloved Meals on Wheels client Janet, “They bring me fellowship with people and I don’t feel so alone.” 

Through Hospice and Palliative Care we are honored to provide spiritual, emotional and clinical support for patients and families at a time when human connection is most important.  Barbara, daughter of a Hospice patient, described her family’s experience with hospice, “VNA became an extension of our family, the care they provided was unending. They loved her and took care of her.”

Showing love through compassionate care is what we do best and we could not do that without your support.  You truly embody the edict to “love your neighbor as yourself” and that is an inspiration.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Katherine