Over the past few days, volunteers have delivered around 250 Valentine’s Day care packages to about 250 home-bound seniors as part of the fourth-annual Boxes of Love program. This is a collaboration between United Way of Central Kansas, ElderCare Home Services, Meals on Wheels and RSVP/Volunteers in Action of Central Kansas. The recipients were mostly those served by the partner organizations. The presents were taken to seniors in Barton and Pawnee counties.
“It’s the most enjoyable day delivering the Boxes of Love to the residents of our communities,” said Gaila Demel, UWCK executive director. “They like it especially if you stay and watch them open them to see what is inside.”
This interaction is particularly important after this COVID-19-ravaged past year.
“Many of these folks have had limited contact with their family, friends and loved ones,” she said. “They are a vulnerable population.”
Technically, this year, paper bags were used instead of boxes, but they were still filled with items for the seniors, Demel said. Some of these are just for fun, like chocolate, but there are practical items as well, ranging from stationary and cough drops to travel-sizes containers of shampoo and conditioner.
Each package also gets topped off with homemade Valentine’s Day cards made by children at UWCK community partners Great Bend Children’s Learning Center and Caring Hands Daycare, as well as other children throughout Barton and Pawnee counties.
Organizers kicked off the project with donations from Midwest Energy, Thrivent Financial and Dr. Chad Ohnmacht. They contributed chocolates, stamps, toothbrushes and a special gift.
They also sought public donations Jan. 9 through Feb. 6. Drop-off sites were set up at Clara Barton Hospital, University of Kansas Health System-Pawnee Valley Campus, First Kansas Bank (Hoisington and Great Bend), Sunflower Bank (Ellinwood and Great Bend), Farmers Bank and Trust (Great Bend and Larned), and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce.
Then, Barton Community College men’s soccer coach Jordan Rideout and his team gathered to pack the care packages Thursday morning at the Farmers Bank and Trust branch on Main St. Volunteer Sonya Rein helped coordinate this effort. Kayci Teghtmeyer, Great Bend High School National Honor Society sponsor, and her students also took part.
Next, starting Thursday, RSVP volunteers, ElderCare caregivers and staff, and UWCK volunteers made the rounds.
“Partnering together, these non-profits work to brighten the day and warm the hearts of hundreds of seniors throughout Central Kansas,” Demel said.
For more information, contact the UWCK office at 1125 Williams St., Great Bend, 620-792-2403, or by email at unitedwaycentralks@hotmail.com.