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October 2020

DC Coordinators at Grab and Go

Funding from the League of Women Voters Nourishes the Human Spirit

By Carrie's Cafe, Featured News

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, over 2 billion people do not have regular access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.

One of the ways LifeCare Alliance helps to alleviate the challenges of access to food is through our congregate dining centers. Due to COVID-19, this program is currently offered with Grab-and-Go meals at senior residences in Franklin County and a drive-thru service at our signature dining center, Carrie’s Café. In addition to these models of meal distributions, Grab-and-Go events were established throughout the warmer weather months to enrich programming and provide education about voting procedures for the upcoming election.

Thanks to funding from the League of Women Voters, these events have been enhanced through advertising, music, desserts, games, prizes, signs, stickers, voter absentee applications, voter education flyers, and more. This helps to reach more individuals with voter education that is still safe for clients, some of who are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

What better way to celebrate a supporter of our nutrition programs than on World Food Day! Every year on October 16, World Food Day brings to light the concerns of food security, with this year’s theme being Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together.  We are sincerely appreciative to funders like the League of Women Voters who help us Nourish the Human Spirit!

-By Stephanie Rowe Bencic, LifeCare Alliance

Learn more

Visit LifeCare Alliance’s Carrie’s Cafe page to learn more about the Agency’s no-cost drive-through meals for seniors!

Remember to Vote on or before November 3,2020.
Logan in a football pose

Navigating the Pendulum Between Confidence and Cockiness

By Central Ohio Diabetes Association, Featured News, It Takes a Family

How are you building confidence in your children?

I think this is an ever-evolving question, at least for me. As parents we want our children to believe in themselves, but there is a fine line between confidence and cockiness. I am working intentionally to keep that teeter totter balanced with my kids.

Logan has always been a pretty confident kid. He will enter any group situation and can confidently join right in. He will immediately call you a friend and not even know your name But, then there is the “know-it-all” side to Logan. The pendulum has swung far on the cocky side when it comes to how he shares about video games, sports, and pretty much anything you are talking about, he will feel sure that he knows more than you if he’s seen one YouTube video on the subject. And I genuinely don’t believe he intentionally is trying to be better than anyone. He is a teacher at heart. Right now, his teaching comes across more as telling. Again, a fine line.

Then there is the confidence he has in taking command of his diabetes. Where I am so proud of him for being vocal about how he is feeling with his teachers and friends at school, I have also seen him swing towards taking advantage of the freedom to come and go to the clinic as needed and seems to be taking a few too many trips “just to check.” Thankfully, a new Dexcom helps curb that this year.

Don’t get me wrong, I want him to be sure of himself, but I have learned over the years that the best way to gain trust and credibility with people is to first listen to understand. To listen to understand requires you to ask questions. This is the learning moment I am in with Logan right now. How the best teachers are the ones who put learning first. Its not about how much you know, but how big your desire is to learn.

I heard John Maxwell speak recently (virtually of course) and he restated a message in a way that we have heard a million times: “Your talk talks. Your walk walks. But your walk talks louder than your talk talks.” While I can’t say that ten times fast, or even one time fast, it does remind me that the best way I can teach Logan — and his sister and anyone I encounter — is to walk my talk. To not just tell him what he should do, but I want to display the behavior for him. For everyone I encounter in my life, I want them to see my teaching through my actions. The only way to teach love is to be love. The old adage of “do as I say, not as I do” is no longer a viable message for sustainable change.

This is not an overnight switch to flip, and one day he is going to wake up and know exactly how to maintain the perfect balance of confident versus cocky. I’m 37 years old and I am still figuring it out. And that’s the point! The point is to be intentional. To own it when I’ve gone too far towards cocky, and to commit to do it differently the next time. To celebrate him when I see him excel with confidence and to ask questions when it comes across as cocky.

We are all just figuring it out. The world isn’t slowing down for us to teach just this one lesson. It throws in things like pandemics, and virtual school, and distrust, and elections, and wildfires and all these other opportunities to practice. And we are in the situation of having the added pressure and expectation of raising responsible children who can take command of their health and wellness in a way that sometimes seems unfair. But how we engage with our children now is helping build their future. So how are you playing a part in their confident future?

About

Logan poses on his first day of school

This blog post is PART EIGHT of IT TAKES A FAMILY: LIFE WITH TYPE 1, written by Lindsay Dunlap.

The Dunlap family lives with two generations of T1D, and Lindsay is graciously sharing their experience with us. If you’d like to connect with Lindsay, she’d be happy to talk about the highs and lows with you at lindsay@lindsaydunlapcoaching.com.

Learn More

Click here to learn more about the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, including support for families through programs such as Camp Hamwi.

Members of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce volunteer during the Rally for Recovery

Rally for Recovery Gives Meals-on-Wheels Volunteers a Boost

By Featured News, Meals-on-Wheels, Volunteers

LifeCare Alliance received a welcome boost to its volunteer efforts during the United Way of Central Ohio’s Rally for Recovery Campaign.

During the week of Sept. 28, 2020, the UWCO awarded funds to local organizations to encourage new volunteers to complete a project that creates positive change within the community. LifeCare Alliance’s programs have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, so the Agency requested and was awarded a microgrant to help recruit volunteers to deliver Meals-on-Wheels.

Many of our neighbor seniors are still not able to go to the grocery store or are afraid to go out in public where they might encounter a crowd. In addition, those who normally have assistance from a family member or friend often cannot be visited during this time because of their particular vulnerability to COVID-19. As a result, since March 1, the demand for Meals-on-Wheels has increased by 65%. The Agency anticipates this need to continue, and will accept all those in need who qualify. By providing our nutritionally balanced meals to our senior and medically challenged neighbors, we will help keep them safe.

With public health concerns forcing the closure of congregate dining, senior centers, and senior daycare facilities, those who relied on these centers for their nutritional needs are turning to home-delivered meals to provide their nutrition. Many seniors and medically challenged individuals are unable to prepare and cook meals, and need a complete, ready to eat, home-delivered meal.

LifeCare Alliance used the award to purchase Speedway fuel gift cards to help defray the cost of gas during a volunteer’s Meals-on-Wheels shift. This was a great help in recruiting new volunteers as the Agency isn’t able to provide this perk to volunteers on a regular basis. The Agency is particularly appreciative of the funding from the United Way because it was able to offer a special thank you to Rally for Recovery volunteers.

As a result of this special funding and targeted recruitment, the Agency was able to attract 20 new volunteers during Rally for Recovery, including many from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. These volunteers spent a total of 60 hours delivering 15 Meals-on-Wheels routes over the course of the Rally for Recovery week, distributing an estimated 250 meals to our senior clients! With their assistance, we were able to ensure that all routes were delivered and our seniors got the hot, nutritious meals they need.

The Agency plans to continue nurturing the relationships with these volunteers. With hope, many will be interested and available to become regular volunteers or even “adopt” a route. The Agency has the largest Adopt-A-Route program in the country (more than 100 companies participate), giving employees the opportunity to deliver Meals-on-Wheels during their lunch break. Each meal route delivered by a volunteer instead of a paid driver saves the Agency $12,000 annually.

Thanks so much to the United Way of Central Ohio for their commitment to volunteer recruitment!

-By Crystal Kurzen, Grants Manager, LifeCare Alliance

Learn more

Visit LifeCare Alliance’s Volunteer page to learn more about different ways to get involved and Nourish the Human Spirit!

Above:

Members of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce volunteering for Meals-on-Wheels during the Rally for Recovery.

LifeCare Alliance, SWACO Partner to Reduce Waste and Improve Recycling and Composting

By Press Releases

Columbus, OH – LifeCare Alliance, one of the oldest and largest organizations in central Ohio, best known as the leading provider of Meals-on-Wheels, is pleased to announce we have been awarded a Community Waste Reduction Grant through SWACO’s competitive grant program for the purchase of containers that align with current best management practices for recycling. With SWACO’s support, LifeCare Alliance will be able to provide new recycling stations in all three of our buildings to reinforce the importance of waste diversion for the long-term sustainability of our community.

In 2020, SWACO awarded $194,000 in competitive grant funding to fifteen community projects.

“SWACO’s grants support unique and innovative projects throughout Franklin County as a way to improve the local waste stream by increasing diversion,” said Hanna Greer-Brown, SWACO’s communications manager. “We applaud the work of LifeCare Alliance to prioritize sustainability and join our efforts to reach a 75% diversion goal by 2032.”

About LifeCare Alliance

Formed in 1898, LifeCare Alliance provides a comprehensive array of health and nutrition services to older adults and individuals living with a medical challenge or disability in central Ohio—keeping them safe, independent, and in their own homes, where they want to be! LifeCare Alliance operates a national model for its programs, leading in volunteer engagement, effective mergers, and social entrepreneurship. A not-for-profit organization, the Agency’s mission is to lead the community in identifying and delivering health and nutrition services to meet the community’s changing needs.

LifeCare Alliance Among Grantees Receiving COVID-19 and Social Justice Support From KeyBank

By Featured News, Press Releases

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 1, 2020 – KeyBank has announced $300,000 in KeyBank Foundation grants in the third quarter to local nonprofits across Central and Southwestern Ohio for COVID-19 relief and social justice efforts.  The funding provides $240,000 in grants for COVID-related support to local organizations serving our community’s most vulnerable populations across Key’s markets in greater Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. It also includes $60,000 directed toward grassroots racial equity and social justice initiatives. The grants are incremental to Key’s substantial ongoing community support to the region as directed through the bank’s five-year, $16.5 billion National Community Benefits Plan.

“KeyBank’s purpose is to help our clients and our communities thrive. That is true in good times and in challenging times,” said Corporate Responsibility Officer Stacy Thompson. “COVID-19 hasn’t revealed new issues; rather it has shown us the depths of issues we continue to work to address with our community partners, and just how much further we have to go.” Thompson went on to explain that along with committing additional funds at the beginning of the pandemic, Key shifted some of its 2020 planned philanthropic resources to meet more immediate needs.  “We realized early on that many of our community partners needed to pivot in response to the pandemic’s impact on their vulnerable populations, so we worked with them to reallocate our planned support to help them.”

Organizations receiving COVID-19 relief support from KeyBank Foundation are:

“Not only has KeyBank generously contributed financially, but they have also provided critical volunteer support by allowing associates to deliver Meals-on-Wheels as one of our Adopt-a-Route partners. Thanks to support like theirs, we continue to serve all eligible clients in need.”
-Charles W. Gehring,
President & CEO,
LifeCare Alliance

Columbus & Central Ohio

  • Columbus Foundation
  • Central Ohio United Way
  • Richland County United Way
  • YWCA Columbus
  • Columbus Urban League
  • LifeCare Alliance Meals-on-Wheels
  • Per Scholas – Columbus
  • Move to Prosper

Dayton

  • Dayton Foundation
  • United Way of Dayton
  • Wesley Community Center
  • Miami Valley Foodbank
  • Miami Valley Fair Housing Center

Cincinnati

  • Cincinnati United Way
  • YWCA Cincinnati
  • Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
  • Freestore Foodbank
  • YMCA of Greater Cincinnati

“Per Scholas Columbus appreciates the support of KeyBank as we moved to remote training as a result of COVID-19,” said Managing Director, Toni Cunningham.  “Workforce training is critical to getting our community back to work during these challenging times. KeyBank’s investment supports continuation of our high impact technology training through our remote classrooms, as well as to ensure that no learner is turned away due to lack of equipment or access to broadband services.”

LifeCare Alliance President & CEO Chuck Gehring is also grateful for KeyBank’s partnership. “Not only has KeyBank generously contributed financially, but they have also provided critical volunteer support by allowing associates to deliver Meals-on-Wheels as one of our Adopt-a-Route partners,” he said. “Thanks to support like theirs, we continue to serve all eligible clients in need.”

As a company recognized for its commitment to and advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, KeyBank reaffirms its strong stand for social justice and racial equity with social change grants in all its markets, and has committed to a comprehensive community response plan to accelerate outcomes and create meaningful and lasting advancement toward racial equity and social justice across its footprint.

Local organizations receiving grants from KeyBank Foundation to support racial equity and social justice initiatives are:

Columbus & Central Ohio

  • The Center for Employment Opportunities (C.E.O)
  • Ohio Black Expo
  • Columbus Urban League
  • UNCF Columbus

Dayton

  • YWCA Dayton
  • West Dayton Caravan (Dayton Scholars Program)
  • Neighborhoods Over Politics
  • Dayton Young Black Professionals
  • McKinley UM Church (John Moore Center)

Cincinnati

  • The Center for Employment Opportunities (C.E.O)
  • DAD Initiative
  • Urban League of Greater SW Ohio

“C.E.O. Columbus would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to our newest partner, KeyBank, for awarding us the Social Justice and Equity grant,” said Program Director Teresa Gary.  “This mission-aligned funding will help to support our local economic opportunity work, providing participants with ancillary resources to participate in gainful employment skills training that will elevate both their hiring and salary potential.  We are so grateful for partners like KeyBank who make it possible for communities of color to thrive on their journey to excellence.”

In addition to the above grants, KeyBank teammates donated more than $2 million through KeyBank Foundation’s 2:1 Response Employee Matching Gifts program, supporting COVID-19 relief and social change efforts through more than 1,200 nonprofits across the country, including many in Central and Southwestern Ohio.  KeyBank’s employees also participated in the bank’s Virtual Neighbor’s Make a Difference initiative during the months of June and July, which, due to the pandemic, replaced the bank’s traditional annual day of caring with volunteering projects with non-profits that employees completed remotely.

“I am deeply proud of KeyBank’s community spirit and the way our teammates have come together to support our clients and our community,” said KeyBank Market President Melissa Ingwersen.  “Key’s long and strong history of support has helped our customers and communities prevail through many challenging times, and together we will get through today’s challenges as well.”

About KeyBank Foundation
KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures.  The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.
About KeyCorp
KeyCorp’s roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $171.2 billion at June 30, 2020.  Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of more than 1,000 branches and approximately 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.