November Volunteer of the Month

By Allison Rossi Utter, Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager at Midland County Senior Services

Ed Vrieland has been a Meals on Wheels driver for Senior Services Trailside since 2018. He has accumulated over 230 hours! He has been chosen as our Volunteer of the Month for November. Ed reports that he had friends that were Meals on Wheels volunteers. Ed explained, “Volunteering for Meals on Wheels sounded like a good thing to do, it appealed to me.” Ed was first put on a Sanford route. He reports that happened just once but then he was put on the Greenhill apartment route and have been delivering there ever since. Elizabeth Baldwin, Nutrition Systems Coordinator speaks very highly of Ed. “He is a very kind-spirited and dedicated volunteer. He goes above and beyond to ensure Meals on Wheels recipients receive their meals. Broken down elevators or missing carts are no match for Ed!” Ed enjoys getting to know the Meals on Wheels clients he delivers to. Ed declared, “I’m not a big talker but I still have gotten to know some of the people well.” Michele Burkett, Food Services Coordinator states, “Ed is a great man! His wife has also been willing to help deliver the route when needed.”

Ed has been married to his wife, Eleanor for 59 years. They moved to Midland in 1963. The same year Senior Services started. They have 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Ed went to Northwestern for Chemistry. He was a Research Chemist with Dow for 31 years. Ed enjoys traveling to see his family. He has volunteered for the Midland Reformed Church and has done mission trips to Kenya and Ecuador. Ed also enjoys the Midland Symphony.

Meals on Wheels helps older adults live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes. As a Meals on Wheels client, not only will you receive well-balanced, delicious meals delivered to your home, but the friendly volunteer, like Ed who delivers them will know you are doing okay. Whether you need meals just while you’re recovering from an illness or injury, or will need Meals on Wheels on a long term basis, call (989) 633-3700. A Care Coordinator determines Meals on Wheels eligibility through an assessment with the older adult. The Care Coordinator maintains on-going follow up with the older adult and a reassessment of eligibility is necessary every 6 months. How would Ed encourage others to volunteer for Senior Services? “Volunteering is a wonderful thing to do. It gives you a purpose and breaks up your day. The clients are always appreciative.”

Thank you, Ed, for your 4 years of service to the older adults of Midland County and congratulations on being chosen as Volunteer of the Month!

If you are in need of any of the programs and services that Senior Services offers, call (989) 633-3700. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, call Allison at (989) 6333741.

ED VRIELAND

ELDER ABUSE

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safety.

Imagine being afraid or embarrassed to report mistreatment by a family member because of consequences they could face, or because of repercussions you could face.

Imagine reaching out for help after a phone scam has occurred and discovering that law enforcement cannot provide assistance because they cannot determine where the calls are coming from.

These are examples of situations that occur in our area. It is the hope and mission of Senior Services to work in collaboration with our clients and community as a defense against abuse and to foster integrity and We can start by bringing people together to prevent isolation and take part in caregiver support. We can change the current passive mindset and the current permissive response. We can do more than “pray somebody steps in.” It starts with us:

Stay active in your neighborhood and stay involved in your community Develop awareness of, and connection with, vulnerable adults in your life Reach out to people you know, even if only by phone Volunteer at local agencies who serve older adults

Provide a helping hand to a caregiver Take care of your own mental health

Be aware, speak up, and actively engage in social justice and public policy changes for:

Cultivating awareness through focused public education Adequately fund and reform community human services such as Adult Protective Services Holding the telecommunication industry responsible for tracking scammers and disabling their telecommunication tools Pursuing and prosecuting scammers for the terror they instill in vulnerable adults Making mental healthcare readily available and affordable Increasing access to public transportation designed for those with mobility, vision, or hearing impairments, including door to vehicle service to avoid isolation Simplifying access to legal advice and service

Senior Services is here to serve you. Come to one of our five Activity and Dining Centers to engage with others. Become a volunteer. Call if you are a caregiver in need of support. Together we can empower our community so that no one is vulnerable and alone. Reach out by calling 989633-3700 for more information.