The heart of Nutrition and Services for Seniors lies in the home delivered meals program, better known as Meals on Wheels. Since 1983, this service alone has provided more than 18 million hot, noon-time meals to hungry seniors and homebound, disabled adults in Jefferson and Hardin counties. That is, on average, over 450,000 meals a year.
Scheduled for Thursday, May 1, Nutrition and Services for Seniors will host the 14th annual Deliver the Difference Luncheon at the downtown Beaumont Event Centre at 11:30 a.m.
The luncheon is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year, which directly supports the Meals on Wheels program and for the second consecutive year, it has sold out.
“I think that it says that our community gets it,” said Janci Kimball, CEO of Nutrition and Services for Seniors. “Our community is seeing what we do and the importance of what we do, and they’re standing up for our senior citizens.
“Across the nation, statistic-wise, seniors are more in need than anything. Food and security among homebound seniors are at a crisis level. And I think that it means a lot that people right here in our community are standing up and saying, ‘That’s not going to happen here. We’re not going to let that happen.’ It just it means the world to us and our seniors, because every dollar that comes in goes right back out into the community.”
This year, the luncheon will honor several community members including Bishop David Toups.
“Bishop Toups is a champion for our cause,” said Kimball. “He is vested in our senior population. He has spoken with us numerous times about how the church can get involved and what they can do to help. And he’s really got an eye out for our elderly population, which is huge because this is the most forgotten demographic. He has done ride-a-longs with our staff drivers and delivers food. There he is with his big smile. He also gives our seniors a blessing and they just love that.”
Valero will be honored with the new “Deliver the Difference” Award.
“Valero has been supporting Nutrition and Services for Seniors for a long time,” said Kimball. “They have a team of volunteers that is incredible.”
Kimball told the story of a drive-by birthday party that Valero orchestrated in 2020 during the pandemic for an elder client. There were a train of cars decorated with signs wishing the client “Happy Birthday” and they delivered her a bird feeder. The client stood at her porch crying with tears of joy.
“Valero’s generosity is tremendous,” said Kimball. “Volunteering and strengthening the community is very, very important to them. And they live it every day.”
Also new to the luncheon this year are the “Community Impact” Awards. Recipients are Hetty and L.C. Brown and Sheree and the late Vernon Pierce.
“Hetty and L.C. are everywhere,” said Kimball. “They love Nutrition and Services for Seniors and are here at the drop of a hat if you need them. The Browns really address the food insecurity issue and that’s near and dear to their hearts. And they’re just shining examples of what the difference you can make in the community, and I say the same for Sheree and her late husband Vernon. They don’t do it for the recognition – they just do it.
“Vernon was a very strong supporter of our mission. While on commissioner’s court, he really supported the efforts of area nonprofits and wanted to make a difference. Sheree is the same way. She is a titan.”
Kimball is now in her sixth year with the organization and loves to talk about their goals every chance she gets.
“We have mouths to feed, and we have a job to do, so we are going to make sure that these people have food in their mouths,” she said. “And the reason I’m so passionate about it is because these are my teachers, these are my mentors, these are my pastors, these are my doctors, these are these are people that have literally paved the way for us. What we are doing is a direct result of these people that we are serving. For some, it may be the only human interaction they receive.
“I will be their voice, and I will rattle the chains to ensure that they’re not going to go without because they made sure that we didn’t go without. And that’s what we owe them. We owe them a debt that just can never be repaid enough. I see the difference that it makes. I mean, you know, deliver the difference. That’s a segment, but it’s not by accident. We see it every day on the people’s faces that we deliver to. And that’s why I get excited. Where would they be without us? Where would these people be without Nutrition and Services for Seniors?”
For more information about the luncheon or volunteering, view seniormeals.org or call (409) 892-4455.