We have been in our current holding pattern for approximately 16 weeks now. Everyone has been asking that common question, “When are you gonna open back up?” My response has been and will continue to be the same, “We do not know but when we do, you all will be the first to know!” we are questioning and wondering when this will happen too but for now it still may be awhile. We are all anxious to get back to our “normal” routines, but our patience is necessary from everyone involved. I know of all people that “patience” is not my virtue like so many of you. But in order to maintain, we must persevere and push ahead and make the most of our current situation with COVID-19.
We have kept busy these last few months with keeping our nutritional meals program going out to our Meals on Wheels delivery recipients (230 meals per day) and meals for our Congregate Drive-thru recipient lunches (approximately 110 per day). We are getting very skilled at all meals being completed for the day by at least 1:30 p.m. We also have been able to supply some type of food item whether it be produce, or a dry good or two. This would not be happening if we did not have a strong relationship with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The extra food we supply every week is greatly appreciated and welcomed by all.
As the time comes, we plan to open back up with a few new programs. These new programs will have been developed during our closed time and we will be excited to share them with you. We have a new exercise program that we are excited about called BINGOCISE. We will still have our Stay Strong Stay Healthy exercise program and of course, Monday, Wednesday, Friday will be started up again. Also, a new instructor will be teaching Tai Chi (or a form of it). Our nutrition classes will be featured also to offer healthy eating, cooking and lifestyle changes. We also hope to do a little gardening, canning, and food planning in the future too. We have lots to look forward to when we open back up.
The other fun project we have started is the “Growing an Herb Garden.” It has been sent out to our Meals on Wheels recipients who requested it at this time and some of our fellow exercise patrons. We have made it a contest to see who can grow the biggest herbs in about 45 days with the date being August 14th to send us a picture to be judged. If you would like to participate please call Melanie, Operations Assistant, to reserve your herb kit.
We sure hope everyone is enjoying the food boxes and extra food items we have been supplying you all with for the last few weeks, compliments of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. We hope this gracious program will be continuing for the next few months. Everyone seems to really appreciate getting the box full of edible surprises. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada has been so good to us and all of you at William N. Pennington Life Center. We have received over 100,000 pounds of food from them in the last year with less than a $1500 paid out by us. Our food expense has really decreased with our partnership and that is a good thing for our food budget.
We had hoped to restart our Homemaker program this next week. We have received so many calls from our current program recipients who have been on hold for the last four months. We really understand the need for our seniors to receive this assistance on a weekly basis and how much it helps them, but after much deliberation the
decision has been made to wait a little longer to restart our service. We are very sad to share this information but for the safety of our seniors and our staff we must continue to be COVID-19 vigilant. Just like our entire program operation and waiting to re-open it, we will let everyone know when we are comfortable with the current situation.
Our program is raising money for a new “Meals on Wheels truck!” We need to replace one of our older vehicles and this is the perfect time to do so! Our Meals on Wheels Program operates four routes daily Monday through Friday which is about 3700 miles per month on the average. We deliver approximately 230 MOW per day at this time. We are very thankful to have received a $10,000 donation from Enel North America. A BIG thank you to Terry Page and Jesse Puckett for thinking of us. We thank this company immensely for this extremely generous donation to WNP Life Center Meals on Wheels Program. Enel North America is a geothermal producer in Churchill County. This donation has kicked off our truck drive! Since then we have received numerous other donations specifically for this fundraiser, we are almost at $20,000. We are so blessed with so many generous donors and we sincerely appreciate every one of you! But we are only halfway there and a little more to order this specialized delivery vehicle.
Just so you know how involved and why the expense, this truck is a special order which includes a Hotshot box which is hot and cold storage compartments for our food deliveries. The truck is ordered with certain regulations we must follow to certify for delivery purposes. So, with that said we need to continue our fundraising drive to collect donations to make this much needed purchase become a reality. If you are interested in donating, you can send a check or cash to us or you now have the option to do a donation on our website. We have recently added this feature button to make it easy for a one-time donation or the ability to make a monthly recurring donation if desired. We really hope you will all be able to donate to this cause and also tell your friends and family members just how important this program is and help us out!
We thank you in advance. Next month we will provide you with a temperature graph of our donations received!
FYI—this news just in... we served 7700 meals for the month of June! That is an amazing record. See what you can do in a great community with a great TEAM!
We are sorry to share our news of no longer being able to provide our previous program of Nevada Care Connection. This year it was a competitive grant program that was funded through ADSD and it was awarded to another agency out of Reno. When we have the proper information for their services, we will be happy to provide it to everyone in our next publication. We will still be assisting our patrons and the community with their resource needs, any questions for services and the like. So, give us a call.
Please continue to stay home, stay safe and be mindful of your activities you may venture out to do this summer. Wear a mask and wash your hands. We all have to do our part. Happy July!!
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