From left to right: VNA’s Katherine Krause, Chef Iliana de la Vega, Isabel Torrealba, VNA’s Chris Culak;

Cocktails in the Kitchen Co-Chairs Christian Evans and Clifton Miller

Delightful food and cocktails compliments of James Beard Award-Winning Chef Iliana de la Vega and her anthropologist-turned-journalist daughter, Isabel Torrealba combined with a fascinating discussion about Mezcal, Mexico and Mexican culinary tourism made for an unbelievable evening in support of VNA.

Thank you to our event co-chairs, Dr. Candace Evans and Christian Evans and Alyce and Clifton Miller, the host committee, and generous attendees for joining us for the VNA Cocktails in the Kitchen event. The event raised more than $25,000 in support of VNA Meals on Wheels, Hospice and Supportive Palliative Care.

Click here to view Cocktails in the Kitchen event photos.

Beginning at the top, from left to right: Celebrity Chef Honorary Chairs Katherine Reeves, Carolyn Rathjen, Chef Martin Yan, Margot Perot, and Nancy Perot; Celebrity Chef Co-Chairs Brian Dennison, Effie Dennison, Event Emcee Kersten Rettig, Michelle Chase and Elliot Zimmer.

Chef Martin Yan took the stage at the 13th Annual Celebrity Chef event teaching the lucky event goers how to slice, dice, and stir fry their way to health! Chef Yan, 74, revered the crowd with stories from his 40-year culinary career AND deboned a chicken in a record-breaking 16 seconds—truly something you must see to believe!

Thank you to event co-chairs, Effie and Brian Dennison and Michelle Chase and Elliot Zimmer, for their leadership. Our immense gratitude also extends to our Honorary Chairs, The Perot Family, for their long-time support of VNA and our mission and all that they do for our community. Finally, thanks to our host committee, guests, and every person who made this event a resounding success. With both the luncheon and dinner, we raised more than $634,000 in support of VNA Meals on Wheels, Hospice and Supportive Palliative Care.

Click to view Celebrity Chef Photos: Luncheon Photos; Dinner Photos

For VNA Meals on Wheels volunteer, Debbie Dacus, delivering connection brings her just as much joy as the clients she serves gain from her.  Having first volunteered for VNA Meals on Wheels in the mid-1970s as part of a group from work, she resumed volunteering with VNA nearly seven years ago as part of her church.  Click the video above to learn how Debbie, a Plymouth Park Baptist Church volunteer, delivers more than a meal to the clients she visits in Irving.  You can deliver hope just like Debbie as a VNA Meals on Wheels volunteer. Visit volunteer.vnatexas.org to get started today!

Mayor Clyde Hairston and Council Members from the City Lancaster with VNA’s Chris Culak

The 21st annual March for Meals campaign ran through March 31st to spread awareness about senior hunger in Dallas.  VNA is grateful for the many groups, elected officials, and individuals who stepped up to the challenge helping our homebound seniors.  Thank you also to Empire Baking and Asian Mint for hosting give back events raising vital funds to support VNA Meals on Wheels.

A special thank you to the following elected officials who took the time to deliver Meals on Wheels in their districts and/or post to social media about the importance of March for Meals: Mayor Clyde Hairston, Lancaster; Mayor Rachel Proctor, DeSoto; State Rep. Carl O. Sherman; State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez; State Rep. Venton Jones; and State Senator Nathan Johnson.

Multiple cities issued proclamations declaring March 2023 the 21st Annual March for Meals Month.  Thank you to our partner cities for this special recognition: City of Carrollton, City of Dallas, City of DeSoto, City of Farmers Branch, City of Garland, City of Grand Prairie, City of Irving, City of Lancaster, the City of Richardson, and Senator Nathan Johnson’s office (Senate District 16). 

VNA is also grateful for the support of various community groups and corporate partners who donated their time during March for special Days of Caring to raise their voices in support of Dallas seniors! Thank you to AAA Texas Regional Headquarters, Baylor Nursing Students, Episcopal School of Dallas 1st Graders, Girl Scout Troop 2048, Rehrig Pacific Dallas, and Santander Consumer USA.

Working together we are ALL fighting senior hunger in Dallas County!

If you are part of a group interested in making a difference, contact our Volunteer Engagement Supervisor, Tracie Demery at demeryt@vnatexas.org or 214-689-2653 to schedule a special Day of Caring event.  You may also call the Volunteer Line at 214-689-3222.

Here at the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), we hear from so many community members who are often confused about care options when trying to determine what is best for an aging or ill loved one. We are a resource for you. To help eliminate some confusion, below is a summary of the different types of care.

Home health is appropriate for rehabilitative services when someone is too ill, has just had surgery or a procedure, or has another disability that does not allow them to leave home for therapy. The goal is to improve their health and function.

Private duty services, whether it be delivered through a nurse or home health aide, is appropriate when a person needs help with activities of daily living such as bathing or dressing, or with medication management, housekeeping, or other personal care services.

Palliative care, or what VNA calls Supportive Palliative Care, is needed when a person has a serious or complex illness requiring symptom management. The person may or may not be at the end of life, but needs help to alleviate suffering. This care is delivered by a comprehensive interdisciplinary team. VNA’s Supportive Palliative Program is called VNA Care Choices.

Similarly, hospice services are delivered by an interdisciplinary team and exists for the purpose of alleviating suffering, but hospice is specifically for those nearing the end of life. Hospice provides support to the patient as well as their family during care and following the patient’s passing. The goal of hospice is symptom management and holistic, patient-centered care to meet the needs and wishes of the person at the end of life.

Please reach out to our team at gethelp@vnatexas.org or listen to our podcast at www.vnatexas.org/podcasts for more information.

© VNATexas.org
1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, VNA Hospice Care serving Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, Wise Counties and parts of Johnson and Navarro Counties and VNA Care Choices serving Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Grayson, Henderson, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Van Zandt Counties.

Unsubscribe from this newsletter instantly.