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Audrey Bonfig

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

By eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter

Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is the perfect opportunity to try it out. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Day are big for volunteering, but have you ever considered one of the other government, bank, or school holidays like President’s Day on February 17?

Holidays are the perfect opportunity to deliver a meal route with your family and friends. Parents and kids, as well as youth groups accompanied by adults, are welcomed – and encouraged!  If you’re a student, delivering Meals-on-Wheels is a great way to complete school service hours. We’d be happy to write you a service hour confirmation letter for volunteering with us.

During the warmer months, you can deliver meals on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day. Share a smile, deliver a meal, and still have plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Join us for a convenient two-hour shift to deliver meals. Contact us at volunteer@lifecarealliance.org or 614-444-6325 to get started.

Story by Stephanie Sparrow Hughes

Additional Articles from the February 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

By eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter

Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy giving back to the community? Couples who spend quality time doing something meaningful together are likely to find a sense of purpose and develop a new shared interest.

Finding quality time with your sweetie can often be a challenge for those with commitments and busy schedules. So when it comes to doing an activity that’s rewarding and fun, consider volunteering together!

Volunteering gives couples fresh things to talk about and helps them create shared memories and make twice the impact while helping others! How’s that for a win? We’d love to introduce you to two amazing volunteer couples that deliver Meals-on-Wheels. We hope that you’re encouraged by these impactful volunteer duos and invite you to pair up with a friend, spouse, partner, or bestie and make a difference today. Reach out to the volunteer team to get started!

Pat and Tom Miller from West Jefferson, Ohio

“Volunteering together gives us a common activity as well as a second pair of eyes and ears while talking to our Meals-on-Wheels recipients. We like doing things together because it is easier with two people while routing and distributing meals.

We like meeting new people and getting to know them visit by visit. The smiles on their faces are very rewarding to us. The service LifeCare Alliance provides is essential to the well-being of the people we visit. We feel grateful to be able to give back to the community.”

Gene and Terry Martini from Ashley, Ohio

“We volunteer together in Marion, Ohio because it gives us an activity we can share. I think our favorite part of volunteering is that we get to serve others that are in need of help, it could be us someday and we hope there will be volunteers to help us. We encourage everyone who is able to volunteer at something, it is very rewarding to see so many people so happy when we deliver the meals, it’s not much, but it helps.”

Story by Nicole Envid

Volunteer Now

Additional Articles from the February 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

By eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter

From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to make your event stress-free and unforgettable!

Why Choose L.A. Catering?
When you partner with us, you’re doing more than hosting a great event—you’re making a difference. All profits from our services go toward supporting LifeCare Alliance, helping provide Nutrition, Health and Support services to nearly 25,000 clients in need.

Delicious Food. Memorable Moments. Community Impact.
Let us help you create memories that last a lifetime while giving back to the community.

Get in Touch!
For more information, email LACateringInfo@LifeCareAlliance.org or call us at 614-358-5252 today!

Let us help make your occasion special!

Additional Articles from the February 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

By eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter

Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is the perfect opportunity to try it out. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Martin Luther King Day are big for volunteering, but have you ever considered one of the other government, bank, or school holidays like President’s Day on February 17?

Holidays are the perfect opportunity to deliver a meal route with your family and friends. Parents and kids, as well as youth groups accompanied by adults, are welcomed – and encouraged!  If you’re a student, delivering Meals-on-Wheels is a great way to complete school service hours. We’d be happy to write you a service hour confirmation letter for volunteering with us.

During the warmer months, you can deliver meals on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day. Share a smile, deliver a meal, and still have plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Join us for a convenient two-hour shift to deliver meals. Contact us at volunteer@lifecarealliance.org or 614-444-6325 to get started.

Story by Stephanie Sparrow Hughes

Additional Articles from the February 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Love Your Pet Day

By eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter

February 20 is Love Your Pet Day, an occasion dedicated to recognizing the bond between humans and animals. For the elderly and homebound, pets are more than just companions; they are a source of emotional support, stability, and joy. At LifeCare Alliance, we make every effort to ensure those in need can experience the life-changing benefits of pet ownership.

For elderly and homebound individuals who are struggling financially, caring for a pet can become an overwhelming challenge. In response to this need, LifeCare Alliance offers essential pet-related services for seniors, providing pet food and financial assistance for veterinary bills to over 270 clients and more than 300 pets a year.

“Many of our clients would face a difficult decision if they couldn’t provide for their pets,” says Claire Eastman, Chief Corporate & Community Engagement Officer. “Our goal is to ensure that seniors don’t have to choose between their own well-being and the well-being of their beloved animals. Pets play a critical role in the lives of our clients, and we are proud to support our clients and their pets.”

LifeCare Alliance’s pet care program is just one of many initiatives that reflect the growing recognition of the importance of pets in the lives of vulnerable populations. By alleviating the financial burden of pet care, LifeCare Alliance ensures that seniors can maintain their relationships with their pets while receiving the support they need to thrive.

The therapeutic bond between humans and pets is not just anecdotal; it is supported by science. Researchers have long recognized the positive impact animals have on human health, especially in fostering emotional and psychological stability. A study published in the Journal of Aging and Health found that seniors who owned pets were less likely to suffer from depression and were more likely to report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction with their lives.

Dr. Erika Friedmann, a professor of nursing at the University of Maryland, has conducted extensive research into the role of pets in the lives of the elderly. She asserts, “Pets provide a source of constant companionship, and their non-judgmental nature helps mitigate feelings of depression or anxiety. For elderly individuals, this relationship can become a life raft in a sea of emotional challenges.” Research by Dr. Friedmann and others has found that simply having a pet nearby can help lower feelings of stress and anxiety in elderly individuals, contributing to a sense of emotional stability.

Whether it’s a dog, a cat, or even a bird or rabbit, pets have a remarkable way of making life brighter, especially for those who may feel isolated or disconnected. On Love Your Pet Day and throughout the year, support those in need and their pets by volunteering to deliver pet food with LifeCare Alliance. We couldn’t provide the support we offer without our amazing volunteers. And, as always, Being There Matters™.

Story by Curt Vance

Additional Articles from the February 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Need a Resolution Re-do? Volunteer with Meals-on-Wheels

By eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter

Do you hate the term New Year’s Resolution?  Are you one of those people who never make them?  Or worse yet – make them and then break them in the first few weeks of the year?

Maybe it’s because the goals you’re putting in place for yourself, such as exercising more, losing weight, or spending less time on your phone, fill you with dread and give you a sense of pressure rather than the serotonin boost you’re looking for.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone!  Research has shown that 90% of people quit their New Year’s resolutions by February every year.

By spending your time in more meaningful ways, such as volunteering with Meals-on-Wheels, you will be able to improve not just your physical health but your mental and emotional health too.

We have flexible schedules, which make it easy to fit meal delivery into your life – just what you’re looking for!  Whether you’re able to commit to a regular route once a week, once a month, or once a quarter, you’ll be making a difference in the lives of those who need it the most. The key is committing to a regular routine that you can keep up with – and feel good about yourself!

Are you ready to commit to making real change? Use the links below to get started.

Story by Claire Eastman

Additional Articles from the February 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Double Your Impact & Volunteer as a Couple!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Are you a great team or want to find ways to be a better one? Is there a cause one or both of you care strongly about? Do you enjoy…

Plan Your Next Event with L.A. Catering!

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
From weddings to baby showers, graduations, Memorial Day gatherings, and everything in between, L.A. Catering has you covered. No matter the occasion—big or small, holiday or not—we are here to…

Holiday Volunteering Available Year-Round

| eNewsletter, February 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Have you ever wanted to volunteer with us, but can’t find the time? Meals-on-Wheels deliveries are happening every day of the year, so a break from work or school is…

Project OpenHand-Columbus Marks 20 Years as a LifeCare Alliance Program

By eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter

Matt Taylor had a vision. Inspired by Project OpenHand organizations on the East and West coasts offering nutritional support to people with HIV/AIDS, he wanted to bring a similar service to Columbus that would address the nutritional needs of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS.

Taylor, a popular floor manager at COSI, was living with the disease himself and knew firsthand how important proper nutrition was. Malnutrition and wasting syndrome were common with HIV/AIDS and in the days before antiretroviral medications were readily available, proper nutrition was the only way to fight the disease. After spending time volunteering in Project OpenHand kitchens in San Francisco and New York, Matt established Project Open-Hand Columbus in 1994. His first 10 meals were delivered to patients at the Pater Noster House, an AIDS hospice on Broad Street.

Project OpenHand – Columbus became a LifeCare Alliance program in December of 2004, representing one of the earliest mergers of nonprofit organizations in Central Ohio. The merger allowed us to offer more services, including one-on-one nutrition counseling and customized Walmart food deliveries to meet the nutritional and dietary needs of those living with HIV/AIDS.

We currently serve about 400 clients, 111 of which receive frozen home delivered meals. Most of our clients utilize our Walmart delivery program, a partnership with Columbus Public Health and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Our registered dieticians create customized grocery orders, which are delivered on a monthly basis to clients of Project OpenHand—Columbus.  From September 2023 to September 2024, we completed 1,413 orders, which equates to nearly 71,000 meals.

Thanks to your continued generosity and support, the legacy of Matt Taylor lives on. From the initial 10 clients in 1994 to the hundreds we serve today, our goal has remained the same – to meet the nutritional needs of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS in Central Ohio.

Additional Articles from the January 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Project OpenHand-Columbus Marks 20 Years as a LifeCare Alliance Program

| eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Matt Taylor had a vision. Inspired by Project OpenHand organizations on the East and West coasts offering nutritional support to people with HIV/AIDS, he wanted to bring a similar service…

Mental Health as Critical as Physical Health for Older Adults

| eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
January is Mental Wellness Month, and while mental health is a topic that’s frequently talked about in our world today, there’s one group we tend to overlook: older adults. Mental…

National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

| Columbus Cancer Clinic, eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimated that in the United States in 2024: About 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical…

National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

By Columbus Cancer Clinic, eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimated that in the United States in 2024:

  • About 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed
  • About 4,360 women died from cervical cancer

Fortunately, cervical cancer is highly curable and treatable – if it’s caught in the early stages.

Having regular screenings can help find cervical cancer early when it’s small and has not spread, making it easier to treat. At the LifeCare Alliance Cancer Screening and Support Center, we offer the HPV test and the Pap test for cervical cancer screening.

Women can schedule a cervical cancer screening at the Cancer Screening and Support Center. Most major insurances are accepted but if you don’t have health insurance, or cannot afford your co-pays, don’t let that stop you from getting this life-saving screening.

You might be eligible for coverage through the Ohio Department of Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Project (BCCP). This program provides free and low-cost cervical cancer screenings for women ages 21 to 64, and may, should your test come back positive for cancer, help you get medical insurance coverage for further diagnostics and treatment.

The LifeCare Alliance Cancer Screening and Support Center is a BCCP enrollment site where you can be screened for cervical cancer as well as breast cancer. The center has become one of the largest enrollment sites in the state. Due to the success of our program, the Ohio Department of Health recently featured us in a video of best practices for enrolling women in this program. This video has been pushed out across the state as a teaching tool, showing other medical clinics how easy it is to enroll patients in the program.

 

To schedule an appointment with our certified nurse practitioner, call LifeCare Alliance Cancer Services at 614-263-5006.

Additional Articles from the January 2025 Newsletter

Click on titles to read more.

Project OpenHand-Columbus Marks 20 Years as a LifeCare Alliance Program

| eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Matt Taylor had a vision. Inspired by Project OpenHand organizations on the East and West coasts offering nutritional support to people with HIV/AIDS, he wanted to bring a similar service…

Mental Health as Critical as Physical Health for Older Adults

| eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
January is Mental Wellness Month, and while mental health is a topic that’s frequently talked about in our world today, there’s one group we tend to overlook: older adults. Mental…

National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

| Columbus Cancer Clinic, eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimated that in the United States in 2024: About 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical…

Mental Health as Critical as Physical Health for Older Adults

By eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter

January is Mental Wellness Month, and while mental health is a topic that’s frequently talked about in our world today, there’s one group we tend to overlook: older adults. Mental health problems in older adults often fall under the radar because they’re assumed to be normal signs of aging. Depression and anxiety are often brought on by the changes many people face later in life. Retirement, loss of a loved one, or prolonged illness may leave them feeling lonely, sad, and isolated.

Although LifeCare Alliance is known for the services we deliver including nutritious meals, personal care, housekeeping, etc., these services go much further.  For instance, Meals-on-Wheels offers our older clients more than a meal: we offer them connection, companionship, and support. Quite often a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer may be the only person the client sees all day, and seeing that familiar face boosts their mood and lets them know they’re not alone.

But clients are not the only people who benefit from these interactions. Volunteers often report a mood boost after delivering a Meals-on-Wheels route, and helping others can be a positive form of self-care. The relationships formed, and conversations shared, can be just as meaningful for both clients and volunteers. These interactions foster a sense of belonging, purpose, and community that benefit the wellness of everyone involved.

Additional Articles from the January 2025 Newsletter

Click on title to read more.

Project OpenHand-Columbus Marks 20 Years as a LifeCare Alliance Program

| eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Matt Taylor had a vision. Inspired by Project OpenHand organizations on the East and West coasts offering nutritional support to people with HIV/AIDS, he wanted to bring a similar service…

Mental Health as Critical as Physical Health for Older Adults

| eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
January is Mental Wellness Month, and while mental health is a topic that’s frequently talked about in our world today, there’s one group we tend to overlook: older adults. Mental…

National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

| Columbus Cancer Clinic, eNewsletter, Featured News, January 2025 Newsletter | No Comments
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimated that in the United States in 2024: About 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical…