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matters the winston-salem foundation
Community Newsletter | Dece m be r 2 008
Meals-on-Wheels Volunteers Making Connections
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Volunteers can surely be deemed the driving including hot meals, groceries and frozen meals. Since 1962, force behind most nonprofits, and the Meals-on-Wheels provolunteers here have delivered more than 3.5 million meals. gram of Senior Services is no exception. This year the dedicaPerhaps volunteer Jack Stack’s response exemplifies what tion of their volunteer base was greatly challenged. other Meals-on-Wheels volunteers thought. “It never occurred Last April, veteran Meals-on-Wheels volunteers Anne and to me that I would stop doing this,” says Stack, who is starting Bill Magness walked in on a robbery in progress. Tragically, his 18th year delivering meals and whose great aunt benefited program recipient Bob Denning and Anne Magness lost their from the program in another community. lives, and Bill Magness was left critically Gottlieb says that volunteers’ commitment injured. The senseless, random act shook underscores another important aspect of Mealsand saddened the entire community. What on-Wheels: “It speaks to the bond that develhappened in the days that followed is truly ops between the volunteer and the recipient.” remarkable. It’s that “connecting” that The Winston“I still get goose bumps thinking about Salem Foundation wants to nurture, according that day after when every volunteer showed to President Scott Wierman. The Foundation up at this pick-up site, and volunteers who encourages people to form new relationships were not scheduled came by to see if we and build relationships across boundaries, and needed any help,” Senior Services’ President the hands-on approach of Meals-on-Wheels and CEO Richard Gottlieb says. “We have volunteers does just that. not lost any volunteers. This really is a com“Meals-on-Wheels is a superlative examBill and Anne magness munity of good people.” ple of how people can become connected,” He acknowledges that the tragedy shows, “It’s even more he says. “It’s not just the delivery of the meals. It’s the formation important for all of us to help others and make this a better of the relationships with the meal recipients and the volunteers. place. What is inspiring to us is not only the dedication of our It’s a very tangible way people can cross boundaries.” volunteers, but the fact that Mr. Magness and his family have Stack understands what Wierman describes. “I get way come through this tragedy and still believe that doing good in more out of it than I feel that I give,” he says. “I think you get the community is important for all of us to do.” the sense of helping somebody that needs some help; it gets you To deliver Meals-on-Wheels, Senior Services depends to visit somebody you wouldn’t ever come in contact with.” on 1,672 volunteers who ensure that 1,200 meals each day are “Volunteerism is a part of the fabric of this community,” taken to elderly people who are homebound and shut-in. The Wierman says. “Senior Services’ devoted volunteers are Meals-on-Wheels program provides nutrition in three ways, certainly reflective of that tradition.” continues on back cover