MCCC Connection - Fall 2009

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Fall 2009

Mid-CitiesCare CorpsTHE CONNECTION

Published by Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC)www.midcitiescarecorps.org

MID-CITIES CARE CORPS VOLUNTEER HONORED

WITH THE LONE STAR LEGEND AWARD

The North Texas VolunteerCenter (NTVC) held their an-

nual Lone Star Salute at theStampede Room in the Stock-

yards Station on September 16.

The Lone Star Salute celebratesvolunteerism in Tarrant Coun-ty. Mid-Cities Care Corps was

recognized and honored in twoways during this celebration

attended by representatives

from 38 non-profit organiza-tions and businesses support-

ing this effort from throughoutthe area.

Jo Ann Pankey received the

2009 Lone Star Legend Awardfor her service to Mid-Cities

Care Corps (MCCC). For nine

years Jo Ann has been the Tuesday voice forMCCC. Jo Ann began as a volunteer driver and lat-

er became the office volunteer responsible for an-swering client calls for rides and scheduling MCCCvolunteers for drives. Her gentle spirit is always on

display as she talks with the clients, and her efficien-cy coordinating transportation through volunteers

is incredible. Jo Anns dedication and commitment

for volunteerism at MCCC is exemplary. MCCC isthrilled to have a caring volunteer honored along

with other individuals in Tar-rant county for their legendary

and kindred volunteer spirit. JoAnn is a valued MCCC volun-

teer worthy of the recognition

as a 2009 Lone Star SaluteHonoree!

MCCC was also recognized

during the celebration for ourparticipation in the 2009 North

Texas Volunteer Challenge. Al-

con Laboratories was recog-nized as the corporation with

the most employee volunteerparticipants from the

Metroplex. The Alcon corpo-

rate team participated in theMCCC project on July 11,

painting Ms. Iones home and

tending to extensive hedge trimming on her proper-ty. Ms. Tamara, Manager of Community Involve-

ment at Alcon, shared that all the Alcon employeeswho participated at the MCCC site were verytouched by the experience and Alcon is committed

to working with MCCC again on the May 15, 2010challenge. Thanks to all the friends of MCCC who

have contributed to the mission over the years. The

legacy of MCCC continues to grow within the non-profit community in our serving area!

MCCC REACHES NEW HEIGHTS: 100/1000Mid-Cities Care Corps reached two significant highlights in August!! We completed 103 Helping Hands

Work Orders and 1008 Drives year-to-date!! We are very grateful to all our caring volunteers who give theirtime and talents to enable MCCC to reach this milestone so early in the year. Mid -Cities Care Corps is out inthe community attending Health Fairs and Mission Fairs, spreading the word about our services to seniorneighbors, and seeking new volunteers. We ask that you keep your eyes and ears open in your community forpotential needs, perhaps a senior neighbor who needs transportation for a medical appointment or could use ahelping hand with the leaves, general yard maintenance, or washing windows. As the population of NortheastTarrant County continues to age, Mid-Cities Care Corps will be there for our senior neighbors providing ourcore service of transportation and helping hands services to enable our senior neighbors to stay independentand in their homes as long as possible. Thanks again to our volunteers for helping us reach new heights!!

JO ANN ACCEPTS THE AWARD FROM MIKE SNYDER


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Page 2 THE CONNECTION

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CONNECTION

The Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC) quarterly CONNECTION publication is focused on highlighting hap-penings at MCCC. While national media is experiencing market share declines with the advent of the elec-

tronic age, the MCCC newsletter distribution continues to grow in response to an audience that still wel-comes information in print.Another dividend of the quar-

terly CONNCECTION publica-tion is the behind the scenes vol-

unteer time shared with support-ers who help collate, fold, and

apply mailing labels for distribu-

tion of over 1,000 copies eachmailing. As Darlene shared whenthe process was completed at a

recent session, Wait a minute, Ihave more stories to tell.

Thanks to all the MCCC sup-

porters who volunteer time tocompile the newsletter. Please

call the office if you would like to be included on the list of folks contacted when we go to press. Be assuredby volunteering you will know, as the infamous saying of Paul Harvey, the rest of the story.

HOLIDAY BASKETS: A MCCC TRADITION CONTINUES

One of the most cherished traditions of MCCC is the Holiday Basket Program. MCCC has been

matching Senior Neighbors with churches, civic groups and individual families for over 10 years.Holiday Baskets provide some Christmas Spirit at an often lonely time of year for seniors. The Holi-day Basket recipients receive a selection of groceries and goodies that allow them to prepare a spe-cial dinner, and the Holiday Basket providers have the joy of being able to bring cheer to someone inneed, an opportunity to share some special holiday memories, and a hug as well.

The Holiday Basket request form has been included in this newsletter (tosenior neighbor mailing list only). We ask that our Senior Neighbors whoare in need of a basket fill out the form and return it to us by October 31.

If your church or group would like to provide and deliver baskets, contactour office (817-282-0531), and we will get you on our list. We also welcomeindividuals and families to this Christmas outreach.

We also partner with The Wellington Retirement Community in NorthRichland Hills for their Sugar Plum Christmas tree display. Visitors to TheWellington are able to view an array of fully decorated trees and vote fortheir favorite tree by placing a gift for the young at heart under that tree.MCCC coordinates the distribution of gifts to Senior Neighbors on Christ-

mas morning. The trees are sold via a silent auction with proceeds going to MCCC programs. TheWellington invites local businesses to explore donating a fully decorated tree by calling BeverlyBrewer, Marketing Manager at 817-577-0226. Consider stopping by The Wellington to get the holi-day spirit and support the cause.

MCCC hopes you will share the Spirit of Christmas with our Senior Neighbors this year.


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Page 3Mid-Cities Care Corps

DIRECTORS MUSINGS:The expectation I share with every prospective new volunteer is once you become a MCCC volun-

teer you will have a story to share. The genuine expressions of appreciation and a thank you from a sen-

ior are the simple but priceless rewards for volunteering with MCCC.

This observation hit home for me in a very heartrending way September 16 th. I arrived at the officeand was advised of a voice message from a neighbor of Juanita Storey informing us that Juanita had passed

away. Juanita, like so many of the MCCC clients, had a unique personality, a feisty independent West

Texas persona that was so engaging to me. Im certain volunteers of MCCC understand this sentiment,whether it was Juanita or the personality of another senor neighbor MCCC calls clients. Going the extra

mile was a natural reaction to Juanitas requests for assistance.The beauty is that I and many MCCC volunteers have a Storey of how Juanita touched our lives.

Upon reflection, the service provided always started out as an outreach to assist a senior neighbor inneed, but with Juanita it always ended up being an entertaining and rewarding memory to be cherished

for a lifetime!The mission of MCCC is to preserve the independence of senior neighbors in N.E. Tarrant County.

The reward ISthe Storey and the lasting memories that touch our lives through volunteering.

Blessings, Duane E. BuuckHelping Hands Come in all Sizes & Ages

A volunteer group from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) Catholic Church demonstrated thathelping hands come in all sizes and ages. This group of six families, a bible study group, want-ed an outreach opportunity for all the family members to experience and address needs in thecommunity. David, a father in the group, volunteered to explore such opportunities and contactedMid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC).

MCCC provided a client project that the group tackled on September 27 th. What a hoot to see

the expressions on the 14 youngsters of the families as they tended to the yard clean-up and

painting the home, guided and encouraged by their parents. Everyone pitched in to make a realdifference! When one of the kids was asked the best experience of the day, he paused to reflectand shared being here today!

The objective of the MCCC Helping Handsprogram is to tend to minor home mainte-nance and repairs for our senior neighbors toenable them to stay in their home as long aspossible. This program is an exciting MCCCoutreach that has expanded in 2009 becauseof the interest and support of faith based

groups and friends in the area. Please be anambassador for MCCC by: Being the eyes and ears for such sen-

ior neighbor needs in the community Encouraging your friends, your church

family or civic organization to becomeMCCC Helping Hands volunteers

Thanks to the members of SEAS fordemonstrating the value of helping hands of all sizes when combined with a spirit to focus onneeds in our community.


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HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 2009-10

NonProfitOrganization

U.S.PostagePaid

PermitNo.9

Mid-CitesCareCorps

745W.PipelineRoad

Hurst,TX76054

817-282-0531

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS November 25-November 29

Last Day for Drives 2009: DECEMBER 18

Mid-Cities Care Corps Office Open for Calls: Dec. 21 & Dec. 22

Mid-Cities Care Corps Office Closed: Dec. 23, 2009-Jan.1, 2010

Mid-Cities Care Corps Office Open for Calls: January 4, 2010First Day for Drives 2010: JANUARY 6

Please be aware of the Holiday Schedule as you make your appointments for year end.

Drives for Jan. 6th-9th, 2010 need to be made by Dec. 18.

Documents

MCCC Connection - Fall 2009