mccc connection - spring 2010

8/9/2019 MCCC Connection - Spring 2010

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WINTER WONDERLAND 2010

The Winter Wonderland of 2010 was a once in a lifetime experience forMetroplex residents. For the young it was the thrill of building a snowman and

sledding for the first time. For adults it was dealing with the consequences of

12 inches of the “white stuff” for the first time in Texas. The unexpectedpause did reveal the unique tranquility Mother Nature can provide in winter.

Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC) experienced a consequence from this un-expected weather. On Wednesday, February 17 at 12:15 PM our office re-

ceived a call from Bobbi, Director of the Haltom City Senior Center, asking if there was any help we could give a senior neighbor. Ms. Dorothy was without

electricity and had been for six days. Tree limbs that snapped off from the

weight of the snow had taken down the power lines and damaged the meterentrance to her home. She did not have the financial means to employ the cer-tified electrician necessary to meet the requirements of the city and ONCOR

to reconnect the power. The daunting situation was compounded because her daughter and brother, whoare both disabled with medical conditions, resided in the home as well. The family had been using burners on

the kitchen gas range for heat and candles throughout the home for light.

Within 24 hours MCCC had resolved the issues and Ms. Dorothy’s power was back on! Duane and Petera MCCC Helping Hands project leader, were on site inspecting the situation by 2:45 PM. The need was clea

and obvious when they pulled up. Ms. Dorothy and her daughter were sitting nestled in the shelter of the

front porch, bundled up, and absorbing Mother Nature’s sunshine to warm up.It took a team effort to resolve the dilemma and ensure

code compliance for ONCOR to restore power. Thanks toLinda and Roy at the city offices of Haltom City for their com

mitment to help MCCC resolve this situation. Thanks to Peter for going the “extra mile” as a caring MCCC Volunteer

Peter, the MCCC project manager on this Service Order returned to the site Thursday morning to coordinate the effort

with a licensed electrician.Special thanks to an anonymous supporter of the MCCC

mission who covered the resulting expenses. This individuaidentified with the MCCC mission because of elderly parent

who are living out-of-state. Unable to volunteer time to sup

port MCCC, this individual offered to support MCCC financially, for just such unexpected client needs that are beyond the financial resources of MCCC. A call regard-

ing this situation resulted in quick approval and support for MCCC to get the job done!!What a wonderful experience Mother Nature revealed! An amazing showcase to enjoy during the Winte

Wonderland hiatus. This resulting MCCC incident revealed the genuine spirit of citizens, caring volunteers

and generous supporters that willingly teamed together with MCCC to go the extra mile “to preserve theindependence of senior neighbors in N.E. Tarrant County”.

Per Ms. Dorothy, “Thanks to all of you. We appreciate what you have done for us! We are very happyto have our power restored.” At MCCC we are looking forward to the “wonders” of Spring Time!

Fall Work Day 2

Swing into Spring 2

TLC Phone Tree 4

Donate-A-Car 4

Grapevine COC 4

Festival of Friends 5

Holiday Baskets 5

Sugar Plum Christmas 6

Director’s Musings 7 New Board Member 7

Blessings Shared 7

Inside this issue:

SPRING 2010

Mid-CitiesCare CorpsTHE CONNECTION

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



HELPING HANDS GROUP WORK DAYS: A BIG SUCCESS!!!

During 2009 MCCC focused on expanding the Helping Hands program that tends to minor

home repairs. The success of the first Founder’s Work Days in the spring led to more volun-

teer outreach by youth, church and civic groups. MCCC was able to offer these groups an op-portunity to work together on projects that tended to a senior neighbor’s needs. We were

blessed to have so many groups respond!!

On November 13th Six Flags employees across the nation were given the day off and asked

to volunteer in their respective cities to give back to the community. MCCC was fortunate to

have a team of fifteen employees from the Six Flags Corporate Office volunteer to support

MCCC by painting Ms. Vera’s home and undertaking general yard maintenance.

This work day was exciting because the Lanham Window Co. of Haltom City also agreed to

support this project by addressing maintenance issues with the aged windows of Ms. Vera’s

home. The results were very successful with the Six Flags team volunteering to return twoweeks later to complete some additional yard maintenance requirements. The real achieve-

ments are captured in the note received from Ms. Vera.

Dear Duane & Anne,

I want to thank all the volunteers who have painted my home. It was extremely

helpful. Everyone associated with the effort have been friendly and seemed genuinely

interested in this effort.

I feel blessed to have received your help and to have come in contact with such

kind people. Thank you very much, Ms. Vera

THE CONNECTION

Swing into Spring with Mid-Cities Care CorpsMCCC is preparing for a busy spring season. We are glad that so many groups want to assist our senior

neighbors with spring yard clean-up, flower planting, window washing, exterior painting, etc. Last year welaunched “Founder’s Work Days” in honor of Mari Donaldson. Mari’s family inspired MCCC with their dedica

tion each spring to help a senior neighbor in March in memory of Mari’s Birthday. This idea went from a singlework day to a year round effort as witnessed in the above article.

As we plant the seeds of a new season, MCCC asks that you be our eyes and ears in the community for

senior neighbors who might benefit from this outreach. Current MCCC senior neighbors have also been maileda response card. Please consider this opportunity to Spring into Action with Mid-Cities Care Corps!!!

Celebrating a Job Well Done!!Six Flags Corporation In Action! A Local Business to the Rescue!



HELPING HANDS WORKS DAYS: The More the Merrier!!!

Mid-Care Corps had worked with the Senior High Youth of Compass Church of Colleyville

for the Spring Founders Work Days. Compass Church teamed with MCCC for a Fall Work Day

on November 21, sending one hundred and fifteen (115) 7th and 8th graders equipped withrakes out into the community to clean up yards littered with leaves. The youth, gathered for a

weekend retreat, divided into teams and tackled the leaves at eleven of MCCC’s senior neigh-

bors homes. They included a little extra TLC by planting a flat of fall flowers at each of the

homes they visited. This work day is the classic example of “bridging generations” where the

young and mature generations are all winners just because they are interacting together. One

senior neighbor captured the experience:

“ I truly appreciated the help with the leaves this year. The youth worked very

hard and were so courteous. Thanks also for the beautiful flowers planted by the front

entrance.” Ms. Sandra

115 youth waiting to “Tackle those leaves!” Loading the vans and heading out...

Mid-Cities Care Corps

Gateway Church - Youth Interns

Lanham Window Co. - Employee Team

North Texas Volunteer Center–

Volunteer Challenge 2009

Pathways Church - Community Service Team

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Family Bible Study

Six Flags Corporate Office -

Project 6 Employee Team

Tree Top School - Have A Heart Day

AETNA – Employee Team

Alcon - Employee Team

Compass Christian Church - Sr. High Youth

Compass Christian Church - Jr. High Youth

First Baptist Hurst-Crossroads Youth Choir

Good Shepherd Catholic Community -

Senior High Youth Group

Good Shepherd Catholic Community -

Junior High Education Group

Thanks to the groups listed below for making the initial year of the

Helping Hands Group Work Days program a BIG SUCCESS!!!



THE CONNECTION

TLC PHONE TREE: A NEW MCCC PROGRAM IN 2010

MCCC is excited to announcethe TLC Phone Tree, a new pro-gram for 2010. TLC (Talking-Loving

-Communicating) is designed to

provide a safe and simple way for seniors to connect with one another through regularly scheduled tele-phone calls. MCCC volunteers willcoordinate and facilitate the calls,giving seniors the opportunity tomake new friends, have fun andshare a friendly conversation fromthe comfort of their own home.

Phone Tree Companions mustbe or become a client of MCCC.MCCC volunteers are being trained

as TLC Coordinators. Please con-tact MCCC at 817-282-0531 if you orsomeone you know is interested inparticipating.

TLC Phone Tree trials in Decem-ber produced some budding friend-ships among our Senior Neighbors.Plans are underway for new “PhoneTrees”. Plan on growing with us in2010.

DONATE A “CLUNKER” TO MCCC The National “Cash for Clunkers” program has sputtered out but Mid-Cities Care Corps is happy

to announce our “Donate a Clunker” program. Now you can donate your old “clunker” (no matter what condition) to MCCC and take advantage of the tax deduction as well. We can arrange to pickup the vehicle, process the donation, and furnish the necessary supporting documentation to allowthe deduction on your federal taxes.

Please contact MCCC if you are interested in participating in this excitingnew program to support the annual operating budget of Mid-Cities Care Corps.If you will, please serve as our ambassador for this new program with your

churches, civic organizations, friends, and associates in the community. Thesupport will enable MCCC to continue to go “the extra mile” for our clients.

Mid-Cities Care Corps joins Grapevine Chamber of Commerce

Mid-Cities Care Corps has joined the GrapevineChamber of Commerce and is a participant in theSenior Services Alliance (SSA) group. This groupis a collection of chamber members and businessesthat are allied by a common focus on serving Senior Neighbors. The mission of the SSA is to provide aChamber -associated body that delivers the best bal-ance between business development opportunitiesfor its members and the community support for our senior adults and their families.

MCCC is excited to be a participant in this newGrapevine Chamber initiative to expand communityawareness and support for senior neighbors in thearea. MCCC looks forward to contributing to this

initiative and communicating resulting benefitswith our seniors in the community.

Phone Tree




FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS CELEBRATES ANOTHER RECORD YEA

The 2009 Festival of Friends was a re-sounding success!! Feedback from attendeesconsistently mentioned this year’s celebration

was “a very nice event” with soothing musicby Bryant Matheau, a delicious meal cateredby Colburn’s, and an enticing variety of silentand live auction items. An increased number of auction items, increased attendance, andincreased total revenue are gratifying resultsthat balanced out the anxiety with the currenteconomic climate.

Barry, our entertaining auctioneer, decidedon the spot to auction off a service providedby Duane Buuck, the MCCC Director. A livelyauction for a car wash began

between bidders. Imaginethe surprise when the win-ning bidder turned out to beChristiane, Duane’s daughter who had traveled from Co-lumbus, Ohio to attend thecelebration. The picture isincluded to confirm to all thatChristiane’s car was washedduring a Thanksgiving visit to Ohio.

Duane’s cousin Les and his wife Karen

traveled from Indiana to Texas specifically for the Festival. What an long-distance ambassa-dor Les is for MCCC! He presented a signifi-cant donation to MCCC on the evening of theFOF that he collected from 14 relatives in theMidwest. Les shared his efforts were motivat-ed by the spirit of attendees at the 2008 cele-

bration that reflect the caring services provided byMCCC.

Thanks to the MCCC Board of Directors who

were generous with their time, energy, and support to make this celebration such a success. Aspecial Thank You to Janice Southworth of Palestine for her tireless efforts coordinating the auctionevents and displays that give the professional andTLC touch to the event. Thanks to Jim Southworthfor donating another unique hand crafted treasurethis time a custom made oak & walnut hope chest

Thanks to all attendees and friends who donated and supported the 2009 Festival of Friends celebration. MCCC is blessed to see this annuaevent continue to grow. Fortunately the growth is

not only reflected in numbers but the contagiousspirit of devoted supporters of the MCCC legacyand ongoing mission. Each of you is a valuableambassador for Mid-Cities Care Corps throughouour community that is certain to provide continuingdividends into the future.

Holiday Baskets: A Mid-Cities Care Corps TraditionThe Christmas Season is full of traditions not only in our own families but in our communities. Many

of you include our senior neighbors in your Holiday Traditions as well. MCCC would like to thank the folowing groups and individuals who made the Holiday Basket Program a Christmas Tradition in thei

hearts by providing and delivering 95 baskets to MCCC senior neighbors: MCCC Volunteer Allison

Specht, Brownlow Publishing Corporation of Haltom City, Good Shepherd Catholic Community in Colley

ville, TOPS Unit 193 of Hurst, Mary Kay Sales Representative Cindy Black, Richland Hills United Method

ist Church, Cub Scout Pack 175 of Keller, Preparations for Life Church of Fort Worth, Emmanuel Presby-

terian Church of Bedford, St. Luke United Methodist Church of Haltom City and St. Philip Presbyterian

Women of Hurst.



THE CONNECTION

The Wellington & MCCC Celebrate a “Sugar Plum Christmas”

Every family has Christmas Traditions but rarely does a business. The Wellington is an excep-tion! This is the fourth year for the Wellington’s Sugar Plum Christmas Celebration. The Wellingtonresident center in North Richland Hills collects gifts for the “young at heart” with Mid-Cities CareCorps coordinating the distribution to senior neighbors during the holiday season. This season over 104 significant gifts were delivered to seniors in Northeast Tarrant County because of the generosi-ty and combined efforts of so many committed to sharing the spirit of the season.

Thanks to the following for making this tradition successful again in 2009: The Wellington inNorth Richland Hills, where a gallery of decorated trees, donated by local businesses were availa-ble for sale via silent auction with the proceeds donated to support MCCC programs; residents andguests who were encouraged to vote for their favorite tree by placing a gift for the “young at heart”under it; Meadowlakes in North Richland Hills (a sister property of The Wellington) that also partic-ipated in collecting gifts for the “young at heart”; youth groups from St. Philip Presbyterian Church and Calvary Lutheran Church who wrapped the gifts with TLC; Mid-Cities Care Corps Volun-teers who distributed gifts to senior neighbors in the community prior to Christmas Day; and finally

the Haltom City Police Department officers who made gift deliveries on a snowy Christmas Day!

A special thank you for the following businesses who donated the Christmas Trees that greetedresidents and visitors at The Wellington:

Ku- dosto Bev-erly Brewer, Sales Director at the Wellington, who initiated this tradition that continues to grow inspirit each year. Once again Sergeant Rowell and the Haltom City Police Department deserve around of applause for being such a vital part of this tradition that went on in spite of an unexpectedWhite Christmas. And thanks to all who donated a gift for the “young at heart” when there are somany opportunities to give elsewhere. Be assured this is one tradition that happens at MCCC andwraps up the true meaning of “TIS THE SEASON” annually at MCCC.

Comfort Keepers

Dr. R. Williams, DDS

Easy Transitions

Emerald Hills Rehabilitation

The Good Place Assisted Living

Heritage Home Health

Life Care Nursing of Haltom City

Morning Star Home Health

Nursecore

Senior Asset Protection Services

Three Generations with Santa Santa and the “Girls” Santa’s Helpers: Wrapping it Up




DIRECTOR’S MUSINGS:

What a year! During 2009 Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC) “caring volunteers” drove 24,683 miles taking clients to

medical appointments and on “quality of life” weekend drives (grocery, banking, etc.). Volunteers provided3,804 volunteer hours, a 30% increase over 2008. Volunteers completed 141 Helping Hands Service Orders, a34% increase over 2008. Sixty (64) new clients and thirty

-two (32) new volunteers joined MCCC in 2009. A

focus to expand the Helping Hands Group Work Days resulted in fourteen (14) new youth/church/corporatevolunteer groups supporting MCCC with over 300 new volunteers experiencing the MCCC mission first handas they tended to needs of seniors in our community. Albeit a one time experience, their reactions revealedthat these volunteers gained a life-time awareness of the opportunities to assist seniors and an appreciation for the mission of MCCC “to preserve the independence of senior neighbors”.

Official statistics do not capture the “extra mile” volunteers go for clients. The impact of the spirit MCCCvolunteers provide is incalculable. And numbers do not capture a client’s appreciation. The most valuable bench marks for MCCC in 2009 are the priceless reactions, the “thank you so much” at the end of a drive, theclient hugs with youth for a job well done, and the hand written notes of appreciation shared by clients for acaring volunteer that has touched their lives!

During a year when businesses and non- profits were finding it difficult to find the dollars to support ser-vices, MCCC volunteers went the “extra mile” for our clients in 2009. What a privilege to experience this phenomenon from my vantage point. Thanks to everyone who participated and supported MCCC in 2009. Ican only imagine what 2010 will bring!

Blessings,

Duane E. Buuck

Chuck Lanham Jr. Joins MCCC Board of Directors

We welcome Chuck Lanham Jr. to the Mid-Cities Care Corps Board of

Directors. MCCC appreciates the efforts and spirit of Chuck Jr. and the Lan-ham Window Co. of Haltom City. They have supported the MCCC HelpingHands program which tends to client’s minor home repair needs. Chuck Jr.and his family are active members of Calvary Lutheran Church in RichlandHills and live in the Keller community.

The Board of Directors has the responsibility, opportunity, and privilegeto guide and foster the ongoing legacy of MCCC. This role also provides aunique insight into the rewards of serving senior neighbors in our communi-ty. We are excited to welcome the community consciousness, business ex-perience, and spirited energy of Chuck Jr. to the Board of Directors.

BLESSINGS SHAREDAs I get older, things in

my life fall apart faster andyour volunteers get kinderand more ever caring eachtime they come to take meto the never ending streamof Dr. appointments. Yourstaff does an outstanding

job of finding me rides. I

appreciate all of you! JS

Dear Friends at Mid-Cities,

Thank you so much forour great and much neededramp that was built by twowonderful craftsmen. Youperformed a needed andappreciated Christian gift for

us “old folks”. H & G H

You don’t know how

much your goodness &thoughfulness meant tome this year. The folkswho delivered a basketknew my late husbandand it meant so muchto be in touch withthem . I will remember

you in my prayers. LS

MCCC was deeply saddened

to learn that Bernice Waller,

age 93, a much loved MCCC

senior neighbor for seven years,

passed away February 19th.

Bernice entertained many

MCCC volunteers with her rich

life stories, savvy advice and

famed experience as a Radio

City Rockette. Her memories

are a blessing to MCCC and our

volunteers.



Non– Profit Organization

U. S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 9

Hurst, TX 76053

Mid-Cites Care Corps

745 W. Pipeline Road

Hurst, TX 76053

817-282-0531

SAVE THE DATE:

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

APRIL 29, 2010

ST. Philip Presbyterian Church

Plan to join in the Celebration of

National Volunteer Month

Be on the lookout for your invitation in early April!!!

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

mccc connection - spring 2010

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