Donor Recognition

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OPEN POSITIONS: Meals on Wheels Volunteer Coordinator & others

OPEN POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The following positions are available in Meals on Wheels. Click on link to learn more.

Making it Possible

Read about the people who make a positive difference in the lives of seniors through their generous donations of time, talent and financial support. They make everything we do at Senior Services possible!

Humana Healthcare of Kansas

For over a decade the Humana team has supported the work of Senior Services both financially and as volunteers in our 4 senior centers. The partnership started with agents sponsoring events at each center that ranged from parties and dances to educational seminars. Always willing to go the extra mile agent Justin took both Downtown & Northeast Senior Centers on a “shopping” spree to purchase food, utensils and other supplies needed to support programming. After a few years Humana branched out into sponsorship of special event fundraisers starting with the Heartland Games and now as the Senior Sponsor for Picklepalooza. Humana’s approach to working with clients mirrors that of Senior Services. Special attention is crucial to form a meaningful relationship with senior citizens. Agents act as advocates for their subscribers helping them obtain needed resources that far surpass health insurance coverage. “We don’t hire salesmen” says Denise Moore, Sales Manager for Wichita & Kansas “we look for people who can relate and connect with seniors on a personal level. Anyone can learn paperwork, and we pay them to obtain a license, but you cannot train customer service. People either have it or they don’t.” In 2020 Senior Services named Humana Healthcare our Friends of Seniors award winner but Covid caused a two year delay scheduling the presentation luncheon. Finally, in February of 2022, we were able to gather together for a brunch honoring Humana for their service and support. This partnership will continue to flourish as Humana moves into more projects with Senior Services through the Meals on Wheels program.

Phil Griffith - Retired Businessman & Meals on Wheels Volunteer

Long-time volunteer Phil Griffith started every morning reciting this phrase: “Today is yours. God has given it to you. All your yesterdays He has taken back. All your tomorrows are not promised. Only this day is yours. Use it.” Then he proceeded to drive himself to Senior Services – each and every weekday – to pick up and deliver his Meals on Wheels route. At 99 years of age, Phil was older than most of the clients he delivered to. He drove himself to each house, slowly getting out of his car, carefully balancing himself with his cane in one hand and a hot meal in the other. At each home, he greeted the people who also became his friends. His clients eagerly await his arrival, anticipating not only their lunch but the chance to chat and share his joy in life.
“He was so nice and friendly!” exclaimed one recipient. “I could count on my meal to be right on time every day. He was so full of joy. That he was volunteering at 99 motivated me, so I get up and do something every day.

“I’ve gotta do it,” Phil would say earnestly. “It keeps me going.”

Phil continued his daily delivery up until he passed away in early 2017 just a few months shy of his 100th birthday. In 2017 Senior Services honored Phil posthumously with the Friends of Senior Award. A luncheon was held in his honor as his beloved daughters accepted the award in his memory. Phil’s spirit remains strong among both staff and volunteers who were fortunate enough to know him personally. His energy and zest for life embodied the mission of all Senior Services programs which is to allow older adults the opportunity to lead quality lives while continuing to make positive contributions to the community.

Davis Moore Auto Group

In 2008 Dawson Grimsley graciously agreed to help Senior Services create a new, annual fundraising event. "A Galaxy of Stars Local Celebrity Roasts & Tributes" was born with Dawson as the very first guest of honor. Now, 8 years and 9 roasts later, this relationship has grown to include the entire Davis Moore Corporation. In addition to fundraising and promotion of the "Galaxy Roasts/Tributes", Davis Moore employees participate in numerous events that advocate for our seniors. Employees are involved in things like volunteer recruitment and KMUW Meals on Wheels funding drives. In 2015 Dawson served on the planning committee for "A Galaxy of Stars Roast & Tribute to Jack DeBoer." His involvement helped make this roast/tribute the largest fundraising event in our history. Tara Clary - Davis Moore Marketing Manager - is instrumental in helping our Marketing Committee work through a rebrand of the agency's image which includes a new logo and website. Now the year is 2016 and Senior Services is honored to be chosen as Dawson's official community retirement party . "A Galaxy of Stars: The Retirement Roast & Tribute to Dawson Grimsley' will be held on Saturday, August 20th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Senior Services is proud to call Davis Moore the "2015 Friends of Seniors" award recipients .

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Bob & Sue Guenthner

Bob & Sue Guenthner are longtime volunteers and supporters of Senior Services, Inc. For many years Sue served as a volunteer and member of the Board of Directors. The Guenthners believe it is important to support the most vulnerable people in society and focus their support on the very young and the very old. The Guenthners were recognized as the "Friends of Seniors" award recipients for 2014.

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Paula Varner

Paula Varner has been a longtime supporter of Senior Services through generous donations of time and money. Senior Services held a special place in her husband Sterling's heart and Mrs. Varner chose to continue support for several years after his passing. Mrs. Varner was chosen as the “Friends of Seniors” award recipient for 2013 and attended a luncheon in her honor along with her son and many close friends.

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Bob Zinn | Area Contractor

For over 10 years, Bob and his crew have spent countless hours helping those who are homebound maintain their houses. Bob modestly refers to himself as a "handyman," but his generosity has extended far past simply changing a lightbulb. Bob and his wife are humble and wish not to seek recognition for their work. Senior Services, Inc. was honored that Bob indulged our request in 2011 to accept the "Friends of Seniors" award.

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Rene Steven Brand

In April 2008 Senior Services, Inc. and Rene Steven of Spangles embarked on a partnership to create a new fundraiser to entertain Wichita. Rene, along with the Senior Services Special Events Committee, was uncertain about the success of this fundraiser and how the community would react to a comical roast that was pure entertainment. Rene and Spangles worked tirelessly to sell tickets and promote the event through television appearances and radio advertising. In three very short months, Rene and the special events committee organized "A Galaxy of Stars Roast of Dawson Grimsley." The evening was a huge success both financially and in the laughter heard in the audience. Nine years have passed and we are excitedly preparing for our ninth roast. “A Galaxy of Stars” has become the signature fundraiser for Senior Services. Rene returns each year as Roast Master! Since the 2008 inaugural roast, the event has grown in attendance and revenue. In 2010 Rene was the recipient of the "Friends of Seniors Award".

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Velma Wallace

The late Velma Wallace was acknowledged as the “Friend of Seniors” in 2009. Velma and her late husband Duane, both strong community supporters, are long-term financial supporters of all programs of Senior Services. Their generosity didn’t stop after they both passed away. The Velma and Duane Wallace Foundation continues to support Senior Services and other important charities throughout the community. Velma was a longtime Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Georgia Chandler

In 1973 Georgia watched the evening news and saw Barbara Ritchie urging viewers to volunteer for Meals On Wheels delivery. Georgia spent the summer delivering with her 13 year old son Robert. In 1974, after the passing of her father in-law, Georgia asked her mother in-law Alice to become her volunteer partner "We were a team working together," Georgia says of those years volunteering for a project that bonded the two Chandler women until Alice's passing. In 1994 Lee Osmond became Georgia's volunteer buddy after the sudden death of Lee's husband "I've found that the best way to help yourself is to help other people." During the years of 1981 - 1993 Georgia served on the agency board of directors and saw Senior Services, Inc. move to the current location of 200 South Walnut. She was chosen as the "Friends of Seniors" award recipient in 2008. After 37 years Georgia decided to "retire" from volunteering in 2011.

Temple Emanu-El

For the past 40 years, The Temple Emanu-el has organized, prepared and delivered Christmas Day meals to the homebound and isolated clients receiving Meals On Wheels. The dedicated members of the congregation provide more than just a hot meal they provide a friendly face on a holiday that is often lonely and sad for the homebound and isolated seniors in our community. The Temple proves that people of all faiths can come together and spread fellowship to all in the spirit of the holiday season. The Temple received our “Friends of Seniors Awards” in 2007.

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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Wichita Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been a proud sponsor of the Meals on Wheels weekend meal deliveries for almost 40 years. The Society provides financial support to Senior Services which covers the cost of all meals distributed 52 weekends per year. Additionally, the Society has organized a small army of volunteers who deliver all weekend meals. The clients who receive weekend meals are the most isolated, homebound and elderly and run the greatest risk of institutionalization in a Medicaid nursing facility. The Mission Statement of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul reads, in part, '…Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.' The Wichita area Council of St. Vincent de Paul is comprised of ten Catholic parishes in the Wichita-Hutchinson area. To learn more about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please visit the website http://www.svdpusa.org/. The Society was the recipient of the “Friends of Seniors” Award in 2006.

A sincere thank you to all our financial supporters
from the staff, clients, and Board of Directors for Senior Services, Inc. of Wichita.
Without you we wouldn’t be here!