This year Copper Shores Community Health Foundation provided a $5,000 donation to help Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly provide holiday meals to hundreds of seniors in Michigan's Copper Country this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. In addition, this year LBFE staff was able to utilize the Copper Shores Meals on Wheels kitchen to cook many of the turkeys.
Staff from Copper Shores, including Meals on Wheels Program Director Kathleen Harter, were on hand to help out with the turkey cooking this year. It was a great experience for Harter, who has been involved with LBFE off and on through the years as a volunteer. Below is a note Harter posted after the inspiring afternoon with former LBFE executive directors Mike and Cathy Aten and longtime volunteer Lisa Beck.
Joy, community, friendship, and sharing are the words that come to mind as I reflect on today and the photos in this post.
Twenty-three years ago, I started volunteering for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, eventually served on the board, and introduced Vincent (her son) to volunteerism. All of these experiences shaped who I am and guided my passion for working with others and serving seniors.
So to share stories, sentiments, and ideas with Mike and Cathy Kass Aten as they cooked the LBFE holiday turkeys in the Copper Shores Meals on Wheels kitchen today - it felt as though a full circle moment had occurred.
Both organizations serve many of the same seniors with each organization having a distinct role. Meals on Wheels provides daily meals and wellness checks while LBFE provides medical transportation, visiting volunteers, and holiday meals - both organizations working tirelessly to alleviate loneliness and social isolation. All of these components are essential for homebound seniors to maintain independent living at home, and our community needs both organizations, especially as the need for such services increases as more and more people age and live longer.
As I locked the door to head home, I smiled as I thought of Mike mopping the kitchen floor and enthusiastically stating that he's looking forward to getting older and receiving our home delivered meals while Cathy said it would be fun to be a meal delivery driver someday. How could I not be glowing inside with such compliments from two people who have dedicated their lives to serving seniors.
I have so much appreciation and gratitude for Mike, Cathy, (and now Carol Korpela) and all the staff, volunteers, and leaders at both organizations for being such compassionate and dedicated senior advocates. It's inspiring to work together to find solutions to better serve all of our seniors.
Learn more about the work Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly does, including how you can sign up for services or volunteer at their holiday meals, at houghton.littlebrothers.org.