The 10th annual Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament and Dinner at the Riomar Country Club was particularly emotional, with guests giving generously to provide a lifeline to seniors through the Senior Resource Association’s Meals on Wheels program after learning of the pressing need.
“Every day, too many seniors wake up not knowing where their next meal is coming from. Right here in Indian River County, unbelievable,” said Karen Deigl, SRA CEO.
“Your support helps ensure that seniors in our community are not left hungry or, even more importantly, alone. Tonight is also a reminder that even in the most challenging of times, this community shows up in extraordinary ways.”
She praised and thanked the event’s founding co-chairs, Mike and Sassy Smith, along with Trudie Rainone, who assisted from the start, the other 10-year participants, sponsors, committee members, SRA staff and golf pros, and Riomar for continually hosting the event.
“With the challenges we are facing this year, your support has an even greater impact,” said Deigl.
Mike Smith spoke of the Hospital District’s troubling decision to reduce MOW funding by $250,000; claiming that food and social interactions aren’t healthcare.
Accordingly, the number of seniors served daily was reduced to 512 from last year’s 672. The rest were put on a waitlist.
“Today, over 250 local seniors are waiting for a phone call that meals will soon be delivered to their door each day. I have no idea when that call will be,” said Smith.
“We firmly believe that food is medicine, and that good nutritious food is critical to our seniors. The social interaction between Meals on Wheels volunteers and their clients is critical,” said Smith, noting that emotional contact is also vital to their mental health.
Liz Brunner, who retired as SRA Vice President of Philanthropy, spoke of her personal experiences as a MOW driver, which began during COVID and summers, to replace seasonal volunteers, and has been year-round since retiring. Husband Chris has driven every week since COVID.
“I have to tell you that Chris and I have met so many people that really touched our hearts in this process,” said Brunner, noting that the majority of their seniors live alone.
Among them is 92-year-old Robert, whose wife of 49 years recently passed away.
“Needless to say, his loss is profound and it’s heartbreaking,” said Brunner, adding he now needs contact and comfort even more than food.
Brunner likes to make her last delivery to a 96-year-old woman, a former professional ballroom dancer who even judged Olympic ice dancing, so they can visit a bit, “because she is so starved for companionship and conversation.”
“Harry, on the other hand, is literally quite starved for food. He sits in his recliner in his sparse mobile home. It’s got a bare plywood floor, a tiny table by his chair, and a little TV stand with a tiny TV on it. And that’s all that he has around him. He sits with a kitchen towel on his lap because he needs to dig into his food the moment you get there. He is waiting for that meal. It’s everything to him,” said Brunner.
“If it weren’t for all of you in this room who helped to make this happen, we wouldn’t be able to go and see them every day and remind them that there are people that care about them and who want to make sure they have the food they need to eat. So I just want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be that little bright spot every day for them,” said Brunner.
Before hands were raised for a hugely successful auction and paddle raise, Smith noted that they had added a $10,000 paddle pledge this year in honor of the event’s 10th anniversary.
For more information, visit SeniorResourceAssociation.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
