Grant Stories

Amanda Weichman isn’t just delivering food – she’s delivering essential items and companionship, ensuring Robert Herrmann’s well-being and independence.

In our community, the Home Delivered Meal Program serves as a lifeline for seniors, offering not just nourishment but also companionship and essential support.

Drivers play a crucial role in maintaining the independence of meal recipients, conducting wellness checks and being attentive to their needs. Through daily interactions, they gather insights into clients’ lives, identifying gaps in resources from household essentials to appliance repairs. Unfortunately, financial constraints often prevent clients from addressing these needs.

A $5,000 grant from the Ladies Benevolent Society: Advocates for Older Adults Fund is helping to bridge that gap.

Dawn Paterson, food and nutrition director at ADVOCAP, explains, “The funding we received has allowed us to do things beyond providing meals that make a significant impact on the quality of life for our meal recipients.” This grant has been instrumental in purchasing various essentials, such as walkers, blankets, can openers, and even toilet paper when a need is identified.

“I never imagined life without my wife, but when COVID took her from me, I felt lost,” shares Robert Herrmann, age 83. “I couldn’t even make a sandwich. Thankfully my neighbor connected me with the meal program. They gave me more than just food, a microwave and some Tupperware; they gave me back my independence and dignity. It’s like having a family when you need it most.”

A 2023 survey shows that the meal delivery driver is the only person seen during the day by almost half of meal recipients. Some participants not only live in isolation, but they also don’t have anyone to ask for assistance.

Regular meal deliveries proved critical for another client. “Being found on the floor by my delivery guy one day after a nasty fall was a scary experience,” she shares. “But thanks to receiving a walker, a bed rail and some compression socks, I’m feeling more confident and safer in my own home.”

“More than 150 years ago, members of the Ladies Benevolent Society (LBS) gathered donations of clothing and supplies, often taken from their own homes, and delivered them in baskets to the needy along with a friendly visit,” shares Dana Stolley, who is currently on the LBS: Advocates for Older Adults grant committee.

“ADVOCAP’s individualized approach to ensuring essential supplies reach those in need, is just like our humble deliveries back then. It’s heartening to see this tradition of compassion and kindness still in action today.”

As the Home Delivered Meal Program continues its invaluable service to seniors in our community, it’s clear that the impact extends far beyond the meal. Through the dedication of these drivers and the generosity of donors, essential needs are met, providing comfort and care to those who need it most.