Shony loves Tuesdays. That’s the day volunteer Nancy comes to the door with meals for his human, Donna, and a pocketful of treats for him.
“She’s just a sweetheart,” Donna said of Nancy and the rest of the staff and volunteers at Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels. “They’re like friends.”
Pet food, cat litter, preventative medicines, vet visits and grooming are all available to seniors on the YMOW program. Like Donna, most of the hundreds of seniors who receive meals from YMOW are on extremely limited budgets. Fur-Ever Friends saves valuable dollars, eliminates the need to go to a store, and allows seniors to enjoy the many benefits of pet companionship without the financial and physical burdens.
A host of chronic illnesses can leave Donna feeling pretty bad some days. Daily meals and visits from YMOW provide Donna and her family with peace of mind.
“Even on those days, I know I will have decent food to eat,” the 79-year-old said, and so will Shony, who has food and preventative medicines delivered through YMOW’s Fur-Ever Friends pet support program.
“My kids don’t worry about me anymore,” Donna said. “They know I have food to eat and someone stopping by.”
They also know Donna is safer when she uses the stairs or bathroom, thanks to grab bars installed by YMOW’s Safe at Home program, which helps seniors with home modifications that help them to age more safely and confidently at home. The whiteboard in Donna’s kitchen, installed at the suggestion of YMOW Occupational Therapist Bridget, helps Donna keep track of appointments and lets her visiting children know at a glance when their mom is busy that week.
“I want to be independent for a long as I can,” Donna said, and YMOW is making that possible.
Donna said the challenges she faces are easier and her joys more abundant thanks to Shony and the help they both receive from YMOW.
