Calling all pet lovers!

As you may know, the VNA Pet Care Program provides supplemental pet food for our clients’ furry friends helping keep them happy and healthy at home together. COVID-19 has made getting this food to our clients a bit more challenging and we need your help! VNA is in need of dog and cat food for our July delivery. If you’re able to contribute, please go to the links below and have it sent directly to VNA Meals on Wheels at 1440 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75247.  If you’d prefer to give a monetary gift, just click here. Your support is very much appreciated by our clients and their pet companions!
Click to donate dog food
Click to donate cat food

It’s getting hot in here!

The hot Texas summer is in full swing. As temperatures rise to 100+ and heat indices are even higher, many of our VNA Meals on Wheels clients need help to stay cool. Research has shown seniors are at a significantly increased risk of heat-related illnesses. VNA provides fans to clients ensuring they stay cool and healthy at home. If you’d like to donate a fan, use the link below and your donation will be shipped directly to our VNA Meals on Wheels office. If you would rather make a gift online, click here. However you help, thanks for being so cool!

Click here to donate a fan

A message from CEO, Katherine Krause

VNA remains committed to taking the necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In this constantly evolving climate, we are monitoring recommendations and updates while making decisions daily to keep our patients, clients, volunteers and staff healthy and safe. We are implementing a variety of precautions allowing us to continue to carry out our mission to serve our most vulnerable neighbors, the elderly and ill in the midst of the pandemic.

VNA is taking extra precautions to gradually increase our clinical presence in the community. We continue to stay apprised of the current situation, especially the increase in positive cases, to meet the needs of our patients in Hospice and Palliative Care safely and effectively. 

While we currently have enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to care for our patients, VNA anticipates we will encounter a shortage of much-needed PPE in the future. We are calculating the usage rate of our PPE supply weekly and adjusting our staffing to meet the available and predicted need. We are also making efforts to conserve PPE as much as possible by limiting the number of staff in the field where/when possible, only using PPE as directed by the CDC and ensuring we accurately screen all patients and referrals. The CDC has allowed for contingency plans to address crises such as COVID-19, and this guidance includes extended use and limited reuse of masks. We have also delivered fabric face coverings to our patients and Meals on Wheels clients so they can wear them during VNA visits as an extra layer of protection. Again, we are mindful there may come a point when PPE is in short supply, so we will maintain care and conserve our resources where we are able. We will continue to make changes daily as the situation evolves, so please keep a close watch on communications from VNA as this is vital to our patient and staff safety.

VNA has also made many adjustments to our staffing policies. As a health care organization, we must protect our patients by staying home if we are sick, constantly screening ourselves, and reporting any symptoms to our managers. This is one area where we are proceeding with extreme caution and diligence to refrain from VNA staff spreading this virus. Our patients and clients are the most vulnerable and it is our duty to protect them, especially during this public health crisis. This is also why we are screening all patients and wearing the correct PPE if someone fails even one of the screening questions. With that in mind, we are grateful for your patience and support as we move through these challenges and continue our mission.

As the pandemic remains a major threat to our health and wellbeing, our critical needs have not changed. If you’d like to help:

1. Donations are needed to continue our work in an ever-evolving environment where the needs are increasing. It costs $7 per day to feed a senior.

2. Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of ways.

3. For additional Covid-19 resources visit our page below.

I am continually inspired by the dedication and generosity of our compassionate volunteers, donors and staff. Thank you for all you do to deliver hope to our senior neighbors in need. I wish you all good health and peace during this time.

Thoughtfully,