We are in the season of “merry and bright” but for some of us who have lost loved ones, this time of year isn’t always merry and bright, and that is okay. Gratitude practices are well known for their ability to fight a case of the blues. When you’re feeling down or stressed out, it’s the best time to focus on the things in you’re life that your grateful for. Practicing gratitude can lift our spirits and improve our overall happiness levels. Here are 6 ways you can practice gratitude:
Volunteer to Deliver Meals on Wheels with us! Diving into new, positive experiences is a surefire way to practice gratitude. Delivering meals is such a treat. The client interactions are pleasant, the drive through Liberty/Dayton is easy, and the meals leave a yummy smell in your vehicle. What’s not to like? Sign up here.
Early Morning Musings As soon as you wake up in the morning and before you get out of bed, identify five things in your life that you’re grateful for. There is no better way to start the day than thinking about the people and things in your life that you appreciate.
Handwritten Notes Try to make this an actual handwritten note that you can send in the mail or leave at someone’s desk or leave on someone’s car or doorstep. Make it warm and detailed. Tell them how they make you feel and how special they are to you. Not only will it be the highlight of their day, it’ll also make you feel good and bring you closer together.
Gratitude Journal Keep a daily journal, and at the same time every day (morning or bedtime), write down three things in your life that you’re grateful for and why — this can be anything from family members, to a safe and warm home or something great you did that day.
Mealtime Musings and Prayer Before you eat your next meal, consider recognizing how many steps the food had to travel before getting onto your plate. Give thanks to the farmers, the transportation, the grocery employees, or anyone who prepared the meal — picture each of these steps and people along the way, giving thanks for their contribution to your meal. This is a perfect group or family gratitude practice for Thanksgiving Day. Try doing one of these practices every day for 30 days straight and notice how it makes you feel!
We are hosting a Thanksgiving food drive to supplement the meals our seniors receive in November! Participate by dropping off canned vegetables, stew or soup to the Dayton Community Center or our Meals on Wheels Office located in the detached choir hall at the back of the First United Methodist Church in Liberty!
Want to do more? Decorate some place mats for us to deliver with the canned goods! Home-made artwork really brightens their day! Contact our office to drop off your place mats in time for Thanksgiving delivery! We have 100 clients we serve; however, we will accept any quantity of place mats you make and combine with those from other organizations to ensure each senior receives one!
Today, Jiffy Lube, an industry leader in vehicle maintenance for more than 40 years, and Meals on Wheels America, the leadership organization supporting community-based programs dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation, announce a national collaboration as part of Jiffy Lube’s Drive To Do More initiative. The affiliation will extend the brand’s commitment to vehicle maintenance by supporting fundraising efforts and volunteer recognitions that help keep the Meals on Wheels fleet on the road delivering meals to seniors in need.
“Jiffy Lube is committed to service – in terms of both helping drivers maintain their vehicles and giving back to the local communities in which we live and work,” said Sara Smith, CMO of Jiffy Lube International, Inc. “We are especially excited about our relationship with Meals on Wheels America as we are serving those who serve others by helping keep their vehicle on the road so they can continue to change the lives of seniors across the country.”
Drive to Do More with Meals on Wheels reflects a multi-faceted approach toward making a positive difference in communities. Jiffy Lube will recognize and reward Meals on Wheels volunteers who go above and beyond throughout the year. Additionally, Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers will receive a special discount on vehicle maintenance services to help keep their vehicles road ready. Jiffy Lube and its franchisees will also launch an in-store fundraising event during the month of October to raise monies to help provide meals and more – just in time for the holiday season.
“Meals on Wheels volunteers give more than just their time when they sign up for a route; they often commit their personal vehicles to deliver meals to homebound grandparents, veterans, and neighbors in their communities,” said Kristine Templin, Chief Development Officer of Meals on Wheels America. “We are delighted to work with Jiffy Lube to honor these local heroes who help ensure seniors at risk of hunger and isolation are not forgotten.”
The Meals on Wheels nationwide network of 5,000+ community-based senior nutrition programs is fueled by volunteers who deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits, and safety checks to more than 2.4 million homebound seniors annually. Based on a survey distributed to 1,000 local programs, each Meals on Wheels program, on average, depends on volunteers and staff to drive 1,500 miles per week to complete all of their delivery routes.
The Impact of Drive To Do More
With more than 2,000 service centers across the U.S., Jiffy Lube and its franchisees have raised millions of dollars to help make a difference in the lives of others. With the launch of Drive To Do More in 2019, the brand extended its philanthropic efforts to provide support to volunteers who rely on their vehicles to give back in their communities. Additionally, Jiffy Lube franchisees are committed to numerous charitable causes in their local markets – ranging from education and health to youth development and food security. The new, national relationship expands both Meals on Wheels America and Jiffy Lube’s reach and ability to transform lives, have a more meaningful impact, and create a community of strength, hope, and resilience.
Smith added, “Jiffy Lube and its franchisees are passionate about giving back as every dollar donated, every minute volunteered and every mile driven can make a positive impact in the lives of others.”
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About Meals on Wheels America Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with an estimated two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.
About Jiffy Lube
Founded over 40 years ago, Jiffy Lube serves approximately 20 million customers each year at more than 2,000 franchised service centers across North America. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. The company continues to lead the industry with the evolution of its business model, Jiffy Lube Multicare, which offers oil changes, brakes, batteries, and tires as well as other services consumers want and need. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell USA, Inc. Visit www.JiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.
Thank you for your generous and continued support of South Liberty County Meals on Wheels. Over the past year and during a pandemic, you have made taking care of our homebound seniors a priority. A tangled web of government bureaucracy delayed significant funding for our program during the first quarter of 2021. However, because of supporters like you, we had enough funds in the bank to continue feeding our elderly with no interruption in services.
The main funding source for our local Meals on Wheels program is through a partnership with the Houston Galveston Area on Aging Council (HGAC). Each month, South Liberty County Meals on Wheels receives reimbursements from HGAC for a certain amount of meals. Our county’s allotment is divided between South Liberty County Meals on Wheels and Cleveland’s Meals on Wheels program.
Due to the CARES Act and the Families First Act, our funding stream was switched. Fast forward a couple of months and the new funding stream ran out of money. Simply put, we were told by HGAC there was confusion of “where the money was at,” they were backlogged and that *eventually* we would be reimbursed.
But because of our community’s fantastic, consistent support, our Board of Directors did not have to panic. We did not have to hurriedly try to raise funds to cover the lapse. We did not have to cut services. All we had to do was cut a check (several of them).
Thank you. Thank you on behalf of the 65+ clients whom you serve daily. Thank you on behalf of our delivery drivers who volunteer each week to deliver a hot meal and a smile. You are helping keep our seniors happy and healthy.
Sincerely,
Kim Stegall, Executive Director
Board of Directors: Emily Cook Mike Allison Lori Williams Cecilia Longoria
We are proud to report that we delivered 1,104 meals in November 2020 and in December of 2020, we delivered 1,064 meals. We are thankful to the generous support from the community, as well as the as the tireless efforts of our volunteers! If you would like to partner with Meals on Wheels of South Liberty County as a volunteer, you can call (936)-641-2846 or email drivers@libertymeals.com. Our office is now staffed Monday through Wednesday from 8 am to 10 am. We look forward to hearing from you! To donate, you can go to www.libertymeals.com to give online, or mail your donation to
In January, the Liberty County Housing Authority partnered with the South Liberty County Meals on Wheels program to provide a grant of $5,000 earlier this year. The grant’s purpose is to cover shelf-stable meals for our homebound elderly. The money came from a funding stream the housing authority had for disaster-related costs within the county. Due to frequent flooding making transport to some of our clients difficult, our meals on wheels program often must deliver shelf stable meals in lieu of daily, hot meals. The particular challenge locally is that the amount of times per year that Meals on Wheels must deliver shelf stable meals outpaces the amount of allotted meals the program is reimbursed for through the Houston Galveston Agency on Aging Council. These funds from the Liberty County Housing Authority will greatly aid in our service to some of our most vulnerable citizens.
Pictured (L-R): Klint Bush, Chairman of Liberty County Housing Authority; Delores Moore, Executive Director of Liberty County Housing Authority; Meals on Wheels board members, Maxine Domain, Emily Cook (also board member of the Liberty County Housing Authority), Terri Bivins, Pam Milentz and Mike Allison.
South Liberty County Meals on Wheels was the lucky recipient of a $500 gift card from the Liberty Brookshire Brothers! The local business chose Meals on Wheels for a grant from their corporate office, and we are so thankful for the decision. The gift came at the perfect time; the Board of Directors had just authorized plans for a fall BBQ Potato Fundraiser luncheon. The gift card will help purchase needed grocery supplies and was a God-sent sign that the upcoming fundraiser will be a smashing success. Thank you!
Pictured are various Board members and delivery volunteers, Kim Stegall (Executive Director) and Lori Williams (volunteer coordinator), along with Liberty Brookshire Brothers manager Gary Havard.
Pictured are Board members and delivery volunteers, Kim Stegall (Executive Director) and Lori Williams (volunteer coordinator). Brookshire Brothers was represented by manager Gary Havard.
What a Grace-filled idea! GRACE Initiative was recently the recipient of a “Blessing Box” from a local church community.
During their June Bible Study, the good folks at Hardin United Methodist (HUMC) chose GRACE Initiative as an outlet for their generous hearts. Spearheaded by Nell Key, a “Blessing Box” was set up during family meal time prior to each Bible Study session. Members were informed of GRACE’s signature project – South Liberty Meals on Wheels- and encouraged to contribute by dropping their donation in to the Blessing Box.
The church’s efforts funded approximately 75 meals – an entire week’s worth- which was presented by GRACE Board Member Pam Milentz at the July board meeting. Mrs. Milentz and board member Emily Cook both are active members of HUMC.
We thank you Hardin United Methodist for their generosity, and for such a great giving tool.
Nine million seniors face the threat of hunger, and millions more live alone in isolation. And some of those nine million live in Liberty County. With the senior population expected to double by 2060, we need you to join a new generation of Meals on Wheels volunteers today.
How does South Liberty County Meals on Wheels work? Each day at lunch, four routes of Volunteer Delivery Drivers meet at the Liberty ISD cafeteria to pick up food and grab their clipboards! They check the notes from the previous day’s volunteers and head out! The entire routes take 1.5 hours or less.
Learning how to deliver is as easy as watching a video on your own time, in the comfort of your own home and then being paired with an experienced volunteer for a few weeks!
Call (936) 641-2846 or email kimstegall@graceliberty.org today!
Meals-On-Wheels of South Liberty County provides five hot meals a week to approximately 65 citizens in Liberty and Ames. All of our drivers and deliverers are volunteers. At $4 per meal, the investment of ensuring our elderly population receives a nutritious meal enables independent living and dramatically reduces healthcare costs.
Our funding comes from three main sources: Liberty County, individual contributions and through a program from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC). Currently, HGAC funds provide approximately six months’ worth of South Liberty County’s Meals-On-Wheels program. For the second half of the year, our meals must be paid for through individual contributions, partnerships and private funds.
In celebration of Older Americans Month, your local Meals-on-Wheels program has a goal of raising $17,500.00 by the end of May.
Will you help feed our elderly neighbors with a gift of $20, $50, $100, $250 or $500 today?
Your generous gift literally puts food on the table and provides a warm smile and friendly face to our most vulnerable local citizens.
Gifts may be sent to P.O. Box 10397 Liberty, TX 77575 or made online at www.libertymeals.com
Thank you for helping protect some of our most vulnerable citizens!
