PUBLISHED BY MID-CITIES CARE CORPS
FALL/WINTER 2020
The Connection Connection The Keeping You Informed Keeping You Informed
Festival of Friends 2020 is one for the history books of Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC). [Hint: see history line on the MCCC webpage.] On Thursday, November 5th, MCCC held its first ever “Virtual” FOF Event. It was hosted from the Hurst Conference Center which provided its usual exceptional service to help make the event a success; Chris and Brad are the best. Our three event Masters, Elizabeth Grace, Host and Ex. Director, opened and closed the Event, our Emcee and Board President, Allan Weegar, helped guide the evening flow and our Auctioneer and Fund-A-Need leader, Mark Lucas Kelly, was super fun and engaging for all. Thanks to all the Volunteers and Supporters that provided themed baskets for the Silent Auction; you are appreciated beyond words and the key to making it the most profitable Silent Auction in MCCC history. Additionally, we sold all the wine in the wine pull and more raffle tickets than ever before. We beat our overall estimates to make the fundraiser a record breaker. We could not have done it without the support from key Volunteers, Karla Ward and Jamie Johansson and the hard working Staff. Special thanks to our Sponsors for underwriting the event and providing a truly positive end result. Big shout out to all Supporters, Volunteers, Board Members and Staff for another awesome FOF! If you would like to learn more about getting involved, volunteering or sponsoring Mid-Cities Care Corps, please contact our office at 817-282-0531 or visit our website: www.midcitiescarecorps.org. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Thanks to our Sponsors
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Social Outreach
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From the Director’s Chair
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Transportation
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Looking Ahead
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Meet our new Volunteers
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Helping Hands
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In the Community
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FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS 2020
Special thanks to our sponsors, virtual guests, board members, supporters, staff and volunteers. You all helped to make our 2020 Virtual Festival of Friends Event a huge success.
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TRANSPORTATION
MCCC Transportation Drivers ROCK!!
Transportation Drivers help MCCC in so many ways. From the start, they have transported our clients to medical appointments and for quality-of-life needs that can range from grocery shopping, going to the bank and even taking someone to get a haircut or style. As of this year, they pick up and deliver groceries and prescriptions to clients, as many of our clients are unable or unwilling to go out for these items. When we held the monthly social luncheons, they provided a shuttle service to and from the event, and when MCCC worked with groups to provide the clients with goodie bags to lift their spirits during the pandemic, the Drivers signed up and delivered those bags each month. This year when our Festival of Friends Event went “Virtual� and we needed to get the winning items to their owners, again the Transportation Drivers stepped in and became the courier service for MCCC. We owe a debt of gratitude to our wonderfully, dedicated Drivers. Check out these photos taken by Transportation Drivers of deliveries to happy winners.
HELPING HANDS
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2020 Adopt-a-Lawn Season Comes to a Close As the 2020 growing season comes to a close, we want to sincerely thank the Adopt-A-Lawn (AAL) Volunteers for maintaining a record number of Client lawns this year, 86 in total. As COVID affected work, school and home life around the globe, many looked beyond their own circumstances and embraced the opportunity to serve others in their community. As a result, MCCC added a record number of 31 new AAL Volunteers this year. We hope our first time Volunteers found their service rewarding and hope they will volunteer again next year. We also want to recognize and extend a heartfelt thank you to our longest serving AAL Volunteers Rich B, Patrick B, Robert C, Aaron D, Bill D, Wes H, Larry S, Brian S, Daryl W and Karla’s Girls Gone Mowing Team. The bond a Volunteer develops with a Client often lasts many years, enriching both lives. Last but not least, a special thank you to the Volunteers that participate in the “Mower Brigade,” and the weekly leads, Paul B and Cris G. This group of Volunteers meet one day per week to mow lawns on the AAL waiting list. Every year there are lawns that do not get adopted by an individual and the Brigade ensures the “un-adopted” lawns are mowed at least once per month. A big shout out to Eric A, John N, Vern L and Dave U for creating their own Mini-Brigade to maintain 7 Client lawns this season. The Mid-Cities Care Corps team is very grateful to those who served our most vulnerable population during this unprecedented time. Knowing they could rely on someone to maintain their lawns gave the participating Clients peace of mind.
The 2021 AAL season will begin in March. If you are interested in adopting a Client’s lawn or joining the Mower Brigade, please contact the MCCC office. =====================================================================
A Truck for MCCC
This October, MCCC became the proud owner of a “gently used” truck. Jon Allred, owner of Roof Plan, LLC, made this most generous donation. The 2014 Dodge Ram truck is in excellent condition and was obviously well cared for. This donation will help to extend our lawn care program for Clients. Thank you, thank you for this wonderful donation!
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SOCIAL OUTREACH
ROAPS = Reach Out And Phone a Senior
In response to the COVID19 pandemic, MCCC started a new Social Outreach Program to help alleviate the expected loneliness and boredom associated with self-isolation and quarantining at home. MCCC worked with existing volunteers, Dana and Oliver Cozby, Linda Ray, a new volunteer, Debbie Afzali and with a young group of ladies from the Church of Latter Day Saints. These seven awesome and caring Volunteers called 80 Clients each week to check in on them, ask them how they were doing and just share the gift of time to actually connect and speak to someone. Special thanks to these Volunteers for assisting during this time. MCCC will continue the program into the new 2021 year. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Caroling in Colleyville This year, Compass Church Youth offered to sing Christmas carols from a safe distance for our Clients in Colleyville. After getting their approval, the Youth group caroled on the evening of Dec. 2nd. We had overwhelmingly positive input from our Clients: Ms. Sharon – “Loved it – they show such enjoyment while singing.” Ms. Elizabeth – “Oh My Goodness, I was speechless, such beautiful singing, it made me so happy that I cried! Then they left a gift.” Ms. Ruth – Really enjoyed them. Thanks for sending them to my house.” Ms. Maria “...It was wonderful. My daughter and I really enjoyed the singing.”
Special thanks to Compass Church, Lori Murillo, Phillip Kemp and all those wonderful carolers for providing Christmas cheer to MCCC Clients.
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MCCC
LOOKING AHEAD Annual home safety inspections (S4S) are scheduled in the first quarter of each year. Clients that would like to enroll in the S4S program, please contact the MCCC office at 817-282-0531. Clients that have previously received this service will be contacted by the office after the first of the year to schedule a 2021 inspection. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Our fifth annual “Friends of MCCC” Luncheon will be held February 25, 2021, at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Colleyville from Noon to 1pm. If you are interested in becoming a “Friend” of Mid-Cities Care Corps, please contact develoment@midcitiescarecorps.org for more information or visit our website at www.midcitiescarecorps.org/friends. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> National Volunteer appreciation week is April 18-24th of 2021. Look for more information coming in early Spring on this. We love our MCCC Volunteers! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We are moving the MCCC Golf Tournament to May !! The tournament will be held on Monday, May 3, 2021 back at Fossil Creek. If you would like to golf or learn more about it, please contact the office at 817 282 0531.
IN THE COMMUNITY Thanks to everyone that supported our annual Holiday Outreach providing food and gift baskets to MCCC Clients. The food and gifts were delivered December 14th through 21st by Santa’s helpers. Special thanks to Second Saturday Mothers and Sons, Boy Scout Troop 32, Good Shepherd Catholic Community and Volunteers: Ashley Ulatoski and Eric Allan all of whom made this outreach to our clients possible. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks to everyone that attended the Kendra Scott Event held on December 10th and 11th. 20% of your Christmas purchases will come back to MCCC!!
MCCC
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From the Director’s Chair As we begin a new year, we reflect back with much gratitude and appreciation for all those who continue to serve the senior neighbors in our community; volunteers, donors, community leaders, businesses, ambassadors, supporters, church partners, and MCCC staff. MCCC is a strong organization that is not only surviving the COVID pandemic, but has made many changes to better serve those in need during this time. It has been stated in many articles that 30% of non-profits will not survive through COVID. I have no doubt, fear or uncertainty that MCCC will not only weather the pandemic but will come out even stronger than in years past. Our longevity with 39 years of service and reputation will keep our doors open and our service to our community meeting the needs of our clients. MCCC has made many changes in order to best serve our clients as they shelter-at-home. Some of these services are: Grocery and pharmacy pickup and shopping Staying Connected Program—groups make cards for the year and MCCC mails them monthly
to clients Reach Out and Phone a Senior—volunteers call clients so that each of our clients talks to
someone from our office once a month to try and ease their isolation Visiting Friends has turned into Phone a Friend and the client receives a call twice monthly Social Outreach monthly Socials are no longer viable during the pandemic, so we are
delivering goody bags provided by other agencies, businesses and churches every other month (this is one of our client’s favorites!) Our gratitude and thanks for 2020 goes out to our Ambassadors and supporters who embrace the spirit of the MCCC mission. We can not continue without your generous support of your time, talent, and treasures and we are truly thankful to each one of you! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
MCCC Executive Director
MEET OUR NEW VOLUNTEERS Transportation Volunteers — Tamera Steere, Anne Knight, Wendell Cantrell, Kathleen Davis, Stephanie Wampler, Brenda Bercher Adopt-A-Lawn Volunteers— TJ Zebonia, Lauren Pompa, Susan Martin, Christian Henz, Raquel Buezo
Helping Hands Volunteers—Doug Hinds, Tamera Steere, Lori Hubbard, Steve Knapschaefer Social Outreach Volunteers—Debbie Afzali, Oliver Cozby If you would like more information on becoming a Volunteer, you can visit our website: www.midcitiescarecorps.org, or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, at jnauman@midcitiescarecorps.org or visit us on Volunteer Match.
Mid-Cities Care Corps 745 W. Pipeline Rd. Phone: 817-282-0531 Fax: 817-282-7980 www.midcitiescarecorps.org
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When you shop online at Amazon this Holiday season, they will donate to a charitable organization of your choice. Go to smile.amazon.com and select Mid-Cities Care Corps and we’ll put those dollars to good use in the community.
Mid-Cities Care Corps is a proud member of: