Meals on Wheels gets much-needed push

  The community's response to appeals for more driving volunteers for the Meals on Wheels program has gone above and beyond expectations, says a spokeswoman for the senior nutrition program.

  Val Maibaum said she is in the process of setting up five new volunteer drivers, a big step for a program that had only eight drivers a month ago.

  Her goal now is to be able to re-evaluate Meals on Wheels' delivery schedule and possibly even expand the number of clients served.

  Maibaum said donations have been more forthcoming, too. Hoppstetter's Office Products donated four copy machines to Catholic Community Services, one of which will be used by Meals on Wheels.

  Greentree Grocery Outlet will provide produce to the program, according to Maibaum, and a variety of individuals from the community have donated games and yarn for Senior Nutrition Center activities.

  Team Ramco even donated a transmission for one of Meals on Wheels' delivery vehicles, said Maibaum.

  "From my perspective, it's huge," she said, and every donation or hour spent will have a positive impact on the program's clients. "These people sometimes have to choose between paying an electric bill and eating."

  Maibaum said that while she's pleased with the response, she wishes more people would volunteer at the Senior Nutrition Center site.

  She said clients could benefit from group activities such as crafting and knitting. According to Maibaum, there is already a yoga instructor who volunteers her services at the center.

  Yet Maibaum is quick to remind that Meals on Wheels isn't the only program under CCS serving the Yuma community. She said it is difficult for many programs under the CCS umbrella to get funding.

  The organization has a case management program, homemaker service, domestic violence shelter, adult day care center, as well as substance abuse and mental health counselling services, according to Evita Mendez.

  Mendez, associate director of CCS in Yuma, said that aside from its counselling services, which are on a private pay basis, all other services rely on state and federal funding, as well as contributions from the public.

  According to Mendez, the Yuma agency is one of six in a corporation covering all of southern Arizona. Though the expectation might be that the larger corporation can cushion each agency's shortfalls, "it's been difficult as far as our operational budget goes."

  Corinna Mullally, program coordinator for Daybreak, CCS' day care center for elderly and disabled adults who require constant care, emphasized the importance of donating time to programs like hers.

  "When you come to Daybreak, either as a volunteer or staff, your main goal is to entertain them. When (clients) come here, they don't have any expectations. They just want to get out of the house."

  According to Mendez, Daybreak is licensed through the state. A registered nurse is always present to take care of clients' health and well-being.

  When pressed if she needed anything besides volunteers, Mullally said, "We really need a paint job."

  She also suggested for people who don't have much to give, sparing a small gift or a sweater during Christmas or some food during Thanksgiving always helps to liven up the festivities she and her staff arrange for their clients.

  Activities her charges enjoy include going to the movies and dancing. Mullally said even though many clients use walkers or other forms of assistance to increase their mobility, when they hold dances, "they are busting a move like you have never seen before."

  Mullally said the aim of these activities is to encourage and motivate clients to work past physical and mental obstacles to increase their quality of life.

  Often while working at the center, she said, you can witness a breakthrough.

  For example, one client who was confined to a wheelchair for many years was able to get up and walk during a Valentine's Day dance.

  Another instance Mullally recalls is when a client who had been silent for much of her visits to the day care center finally opened up and talked. "You don't even want to get your paycheck because your paycheck is right there.

   "Mainly we just want to be there for them and for the families, too," said Mullally.

  Mendez said support is generally forthcoming for CCS' operations in Somerton and San Luis where community members "try to provide support and pick up on what they see we are not providing," even if it's as small as helping decorate a congregant site for Christmas.

  She expressed gratitude for the recent outpouring of support for the Meals on Wheels program in the city of Yuma.

  Maibaum said "keeping the name out there, keeping public awareness up, especially about the services that Catholic Community Services offers," is crucial to maintaining community awareness and involvement in their programs.

  And sometimes, she said, people "just need a suggestion of where to help."