Fook Lok-Hollywood Center Visit!
Last Tuesday I got the pleasure of going out to our Fook Lok-Hollywood Center to meet a few of the incredible staff members!
I, for whatever reason am incapable of following directions on a map, was wandering 45th Ave trying to find the center when it was right in front of me the entire time! It’s located in the downstairs portion of Rose City Park Presbyterian Church just off of Sandy Boulevard. Meals on Wheels People began in February 1970 in a church basement where they delivered 14 Meals on Wheels to seniors. The Fook Lok-Hollywood center is the last to remain in a church basement, but it has grown to serve much more than 14 meals in the area!
That’s not the only fun fact that makes the Fook Lok-Hollywood Center unique, another cool characteristic is the great Asian outreach that is offered. Lunch is served Monday through Friday and seniors have the option of an American or Asian entrée made from scratch daily. This delicious meal is made with the help of one wonderful woman named Yu Jun Sun, who goes by Jun, and has been working with Meals on Wheels People since 2006 (when the Fook Lok Center and the Hollywood Center combined) and is dedicated to providing the best meals possible for seniors. Jun reads and writes English and never misses a beat when it comes to loading all the meals into the coolers around 10am for the daily deliveries.
Mary Gagnon, the Center Manager, comes in everyday to manage the awesome events, the sweet volunteers and all the delicious meals. Mary began volunteering with Meals on Wheels People 11 years ago. She discovered Meals on Wheels People at her previous job working with attorneys, who would often have long lunch breaks during the day. Mary noticed that there were people delivering meals to seniors in the area and that’s what sparked her interest for Meals on Wheels People. Mary began volunteering to deliver meals when her daughter was in 3rd grade and the two of them would often volunteer together. Now her daughter is 31 years old and Mary is the Center Manager of the Fook Lok-Hollywood Center after working part time and now working full time with Meals on Wheels People.
Another member of the wonderful staff is Yao Lee, the Outreach Manager who works as an interpreter for many of the Asian seniors who come to the Fook Lok-Hollywood Center. Yao is originally from Taiwan and feels a special connection to those who come the center because she sees them as her family. She is able to speak and relate to the seniors who enjoy the meals because it is a very important part of their lives. Yao explains, that “to me they’re just like my family,” and with that great connection she is able to provide a wonderful experience for those seniors who rarely have any social interaction outside of Meals on Wheels People.
Many seniors that Meals on Wheels People deliver to do not have a lot of social interaction, several only leave their homes for doctors appointments. Meals on Wheels People not only provides meals for seniors, but also a loving and caring environment for seniors. Mary explained to me that many of the seniors look forward to the time of day when the volunteers deliver their meals because that is when they are able to talk to someone.
There are many routes that Meals on Wheels People deliver to and on each route the drivers are able to interact with many of the seniors. Mary said that on one of their routes, there is a woman who without fail will have one piece of candy ready for the person who is delivering her meal that day. She plans it and although she is not able to do much, she makes sure that she has a piece of candy ready for the sweet volunteer. She makes a point to get that candy and like most seniors, the volunteers might be the only person they see that day. She is very grateful and wants to make the most of the time she gets with the volunteers.
Whether working or volunteering with Meals on Wheels People, the experience is great! Food is very important not just from a nutritional standpoint. When people gather together, food is usually involved. Food promotes inclusion and compassion, and when focusing on those who are in need of food, there is so much more that is being satisfied than just hunger. That is why we have an incredibly awesome staff and wonderful volunteers who want to make a difference so that no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation.
