Mandy Boom’s beloved mother-in-law, Louise, often encouraged Mandy to share what she called "the gift of joy." When Louise died in September 2023, Mandy acted on those words by becoming a volunteer for Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels. “I picked up where she left off,” said Mandy, whose mother-in-law
Volunteer gets to know her neighbors with every knock
Mondays are especially busy days for YMOW volunteers like Nancy Culotta. Along with the usual meals, staff and volunteers distribute donations of produce, bread, and other items to everyone on their routes. It’s a lot more work, but Nancy sees every knock on a door, every bag of apples and every
Friday visits provide more than a meal
Every once in a while, we're reminded of little bits of good that resulted from the largely negative event that was the pandemic of 2020. One of those bits comes from Carola Baker, half of the volunteer team that's recognized as YMOW's volunteer of the second quarter, 2024. "We couldn't do
Small favors are a big part of volunteer’s role at YMOW
Knowledge of a foreign language certainly isn't required of YMOW volunteers. But that hasn't stopped Rick Humesky from learning phrases in Spanish and Romanian as part of his role at YMOW. When Rick learned that a client on his Monday route spoke Romanian, he took it upon himself to learn
New CEO/Executive Committee in place at YMOW
As YMOW embarks on our second half-century of service to our community, we do so with a new leader at the helm. Following an extensive search conducted by the Andrews Group, we are proud and excited to announce Barbara Niess-May as YMOW's new President and CEO. A proud supporter of the Ypsilanti
Volunteering is a team effort for the Englebergs
As is the case for most recent retirees, Suzy and Cary Engleberg's decision to end their work careers came with the gift of more time - a gift that they are eager to share with their community and with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels. Each Wednesday the couple arrives at YMOW to load up meals for
Client stories – the people and faces of YMOW
George George was never much of a cook. After losing his wife, his ability to drive and much of his eyesight, canned beans and cold cereal became staples in his diet. "I'd sometimes eat them three times a day," the 74-year-old Vietnam Veteran and EMU graduate said. "Someone at church told me
Volunteer continues lifetime of giving at YMOW
Mary Ducker began caring for others long before she embarked on a career in nursing. As an eighth-grader, she volunteered at a local nursing home, and in high school, she tutored younger students who needed a little help. Now, as a retired nurse, she gives her time to her homebound neighbors as a