The COVID-19 pandemic changed the lives of practically everyone. However, for many of our nation’s seniors, like Eulalia, living in isolation isn’t anything new.
Eulalia is 97 years old and lives in Dallas, Texas. She loves to cook tortillas, enchiladas and especially tamales. But for the past seven months she’s been in a wheelchair, making her unable to walk or cook on her own.
Eulalia relies on VNA Meals on Wheels to provide nutritious meals and facilitate the activities that enable her to continue to live independently in her own home. And, she loves the volunteers! All the cards that Meals on Wheels volunteers have given her hang on the side of her refrigerator as a constant reminder that she is not alone.
“They come and they talk to me…they really like me!” she says with a laugh.
Eulalia spent her life taking care of everyone else around her. When she was younger, she stopped going to school so she could help her parents take care of her siblings. Then she raised ten of her own children. Now, it’s her turn to be taken care of by Meals on Wheels.
Volunteers cannot enter Eulalia’s home because of COVID-19, so they drop off the food at her front door and then call her on the phone. They check in to see how she is doing and take the opportunity to say hello.
America’s seniors were already at risk, and when COVID-19 hit, a staggering 89% of Meals on Wheels programs reported huge increases in demand for meals, practically overnight. 79% of them saw their demand at least double, all while stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines forced significant modifications in their core structure and service model.
The kindness and generosity of organizations and people like you continue to ensure our seniors have this critical lifeline.
Meals on Wheels is making sure seniors aren't forgotten during the crisis with telephone check-ins, community letters and even a friendly wave from the car. Read more here.