DeCEMBER 2024

Our December Volunteer of the Month is Ross Lawler! After retiring three years ago from a remarkable 45-year career teaching in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Texas Medical School, Ross wanted to find a meaningful way to give back. Reflecting on his career caring for patients, he became increasingly aware of how fortunate he was and wanted to continue caring for others.
As a Meals on Wheels volunteer for the past two years, Ross has delivered more than a meal to the clients on his routes. He loves that by volunteering, he can ensure that seniors age safely and independently in their homes while providing a mutual sense of connection to those he delivers to. He shares, "Delivering for Meals on Wheels is one of the few activities that leave me with more energy than when I began. It is a blessing."
Thank you, Ross, for helping us deliver More Than A Meal® and for your dedication to making a difference in the lives of others!

november 2024

Our November Volunteer of the Month is Henry De La Cerda! After retiring from the state of Texas, Henry was looking for a way to stay busy. Back in 2019, he was eating lunch at a Chinese restaurant with his parents when he opened his fortune cookie and it read, "Don't just live and let live, live and help live." He took this advice to heart and signed up for Meals on Wheels and several other volunteer opportunities that week.
What started as just him delivering meals to the clients on his routes, his dad, Henry Sr., started joining him over time, and they now deliver together, his dad as the driver and him as the one making the deliveries. They deliver every Thursday so they can see the same people regularly and look forward to visiting them. The relationships he's been able to form with those he regularly delivers to is his favorite part of volunteering.
Henry truly supports our mission, saying, "Some people are looking for more than just a meal, and there are times when just a couple minutes of your time can make someone else's day better." To this day, he still carries in his wallet the fortune he received that day, which started his efforts to make the world "a little bit better."
Thank you, Henry, for helping us deliver More Than A Meal®

OCTOBER 2024
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Our October Volunteer of the Month is Ted Morse! After dedicating 46 years to military service and working as a Department of Defense contractor, Ted embraced retirement by continuing to serve others. Since 2016, he has delivered more than just meals to our senior and homebound neighbors.
As a dedicated meal delivery and friendly visitor volunteer, Ted ensures that each person he visits receives a nutritious meal and a friendly check-in. Ted's volunteer work truly supports our mission of bringing nourishment and companionship to clients who may feel isolated.
Ted's favorite part of volunteering is being there for clients who appreciate a friendly face at the door. "It is my pleasure to serve as a Meals on Wheels volunteer," he says, and we couldn't be more grateful for his dedication to serving our community.
Thank you, Ted, for your continued service and for helping us deliver More Than A Meal®

SEPTEMBER 2024
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Our September Volunteer of the Month is Pepper! For 11 years, Pepper has supported nonprofits in our community, such as Meals on Wheels San Antonio, through The Big Give! The Big Give is an incredible 24-hour online giving event for donors to support local nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels San Antonio. This year's event starts September 18 at 6 p.m., where your donation can help us get one of the four new vehicles we need to continue providing nutritious meals and essential services to our community's seniors and homebound individuals.
Pepper's dedication to supporting the Meals on Wheels mission is evident by the extra kick of community spirit they bring. Whether Pepper is packing Power Packs or delivering meals to those we serve, they really know how to add a dash of enthusiasm and a pinch of joy to our mission!
Thank you to Pepper and to our entire community for helping us deliver More Than A Meal®. Your ongoing support makes our mission possible, and we are truly grateful for your commitment.

AUGUST 2024

Our August Volunteer of the Month is Paula Berry! Paula has been working for Broadway Bank, a big supporter in our community, for 12 years.
Paula first experienced volunteering with Meals on Wheels when she and some coworkers at Broadway Bank came to help assemble shelf-stable meals. While volunteering, she learned about the different volunteer opportunities she could get involved with. Paula's dedication to serving our clients is greatly appreciated. Not only does she assist meal delivery clients, but she also helps with our AniMeals program, where her dog Yoshi is sometimes her delivery partner.
Her support is most evident in her dedication to our Alzheimer's service clients, where she helps assemble our Grace At Home kits. Paula's family has a history of Alzheimer's and other Dementia, and she's always amazed at the items that are provided to our Alzheimer's service clients. These items give her ideas for activities she can do with those close to her who are also living with Alzheimer's and dementia.
Paula's favorite part about volunteering is best described by author Leo Buscaglia: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." Volunteering allows her to do all of those things, and in return, it brings her and our clients joy.
Thank you to Paula for helping deliver More Than A Meal®

JuLY 2024

Our July Volunteer of the Month is Coco Tipton! Coco taught in the North East Independent School District for 34 years before retiring in 2019.
Our July Volunteer of the Month, Coco Tipton, is a shining example of growth and commitment. She began her journey with us as a meal delivery volunteer in the fall of 2023. However, it was not long before she discovered her true calling as a Friendly Visitor volunteer. Coco's dedication is evident in her regular visits to Meals on Wheels client Emma and her thoughtful check-ins through Friendly Calls to other clients who value the additional support.
Coco's dedication to those Meals on Wheels serves runs in the family. She had a relative who worked here years ago, and she witnessed his love and passion for the people we serve. She decided the time was right for her to participate and said her experience has exceeded her expectations!
Coco enjoys chatting on the phone with clients, many of whom tell her the person who brings meals is the only person they see in a day. She said, "The overwhelming response I hear is their gratitude, and gratitude makes everyone happier."
Coco's favorite part about volunteering is spending time with Emma, as a Friendly Visitor volunteer. They put together puzzles and play Dominoes and Scrabble. Emma has won every game they've played. "She can count Dominoes in her head faster than anyone I know," Coco exclaims.
One of the best things Coco has ever heard was when a woman she talked to on the phone said, "Her favorite word was 'impossible.' She went on to explain that when you break it into two words, it says, 'I'm possible!' I love that unexpected play on words, especially one that turns something negative into something positive."
Thank you to Coco for being a beam of positivity for every client she speaks with! She truly ensures our clients More Than A Meal®

June 2024

Our June Volunteer of the Month is William Fuller! William is retired from the workforce but has been a member of our meal delivery volunteer force since 2019.
William's dedication to volunteering is not just about helping people in the community. It's also a beautiful way for him and his wife to spend quality time together, delivering meals side by side.
They truly do deliver more than a meal because they've helped ensure clients stay comfortable and safe in their homes. An example of that is when William and his wife installed an AC unit in a client's home.
William's favorite part of being a volunteer is meeting new people and being able to help others in good faith.
Thank you to William for ensuring our clients receive proper nutrition and helping to deliver more than a meal!

MAY 2024

Our May Volunteer of the Month is Anne Burt! Anne is retired from the US Air Force. She's been a proud AniMeals Delivery volunteer with Meals on Wheels since 2019!!
Once Anne heard about AniMeals, she knew she had to volunteer. "My husband and I have had several routes throughout the years and have made many friends, furry and human! We are dog owners and lovers, and I can only imagine the feeling of not being able to provide nutritious food to my pet family members."
Anne is also an artist. Because of her passion for helping, she generously donates a portion of her art sales to several nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels San Antonio's AniMeals service. Her contributions have helped us continue our mission of providing meals and companionship to the elderly, making a tangible difference in their lives.
Through her unwavering dedication, Anne has provided nutritious food to our clients' pets and ensured our clients have daily companionship. We are truly grateful for your efforts, Anne, in making our clients' pets furtastic!

April 2024

Our April Volunteer of the Month is Hortencia Andrada! Hortencia is a realtor with a passion for helping others. She's been a Friendly Visitor volunteer with Meals on Wheels client Carmen for almost a year.
Hortencia volunteers with Meals on Wheels because she wants to do something close and dear to her heart. "The Elderly community is a group of people that I feel are forgotten. I have had family in nursing homes, and it would break my heart to see all these elderly individuals who were all alone... They were so alone."
Her favorite part of volunteering is being there for Carmen. Hortencia is there for her to listen, talk, and drink a cup of tea. Time flies by, and she's been visiting for 3 hours before Hortencia realizes it.
Dedicated volunteers like Hortencia have made it possible to ensure that our clients truly receive more than a meal. Thank you, Hortencia, for brightening up Carmen's day!

March 2024

Our March Volunteer of the Month is Sherilyn Powers! Sherilyn is a retired RN, whose career spanned 23 years working in rehab at our VA Hospital.
She's a meal delivery volunteer who has been delivering meals for over four years! Sherilyn volunteers as a way to give back to her community and she said, " I enjoy getting to know the families I deliver to."
Dedicated volunteers like Sherilyn have made it possible to ensure that our clients receive proper nutrition. Thank you, Sherilyn, for helping to deliver much more than a meal!

February 2024
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Our February Volunteer of the Month is Jan Danielski! Jan is retired, volunteers as a meal delivery driver, and has been delivering nourishment to our older and disabled neighbors since February 2007!
Jan loves delivering meals with her husband every Monday and Wednesday! She volunteers because " I have been blessed us in so many ways, I want to be a blessing to others in need." We're thankful to have volunteers like Jan to help our clients receive their meals!
Her favorite part of volunteering is "clients that become friends! We have past clients we still keep in touch with." We appreciate you, Jan, for providing that connection and friendship to our clients and helping deliver more than a meal!
Dedicated volunteers like Jan have made it possible to ensure that our clients receive proper nutrition. Thank you, Jan, for helping to deliver much more than a meal!

January 2024
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Our January Volunteer of the Month is Timothy Yasger! Timothy is a retired school teacher and volunteers as a meal delivery driver and has been delivering nourishment to our older and disabled neighbors since February 2023!
Timothy loves volunteering and says, "I wanted to give back to the seniors of San Antonio who have done so much for all of us. "We're thankful to have volunteers like Timothy to help our clients receive their meals!
His favorite part of volunteering is "visiting with all the friends I've made on my route." We appreciate you, Timothy, for providing that connection and friendship to our clients and helping deliver more than a meal!
Dedicated volunteers like Timothy have made it possible to ensure that our clients receive proper nutrition. Thank you, Timothy, for helping to deliver much more than a meal!