Everybody Eats When They Come To My House (DFW) – USA
I was happy to have the opportunity to volunteer for the Visiting Nurses Association of Texas (VNA) Meals on Wheels Program, it’s something I’ve long wanted to do. But it was even more meaningful to volunteer with my customers and I’m truly grateful to have that kind of connectedness with them. With less than a week to plan, we all pulled together and formed a group of 13 with 5 Sabre Travel Network agency customers, 1 dear friend and 7 Sabre employees (one of which – our CEO Sam Gilliland). With the help of our customers, we had enough volunteers to make the event a “go” since a minimum of 12 people are required. The day was a great customer bonding experience for all of us, and I think I can honestly say we are …. Better Together ~ Awwwwwh!
After a short training session and a tour of the VNA facility we paired off and headed out for the West Dallas meals distribution center. There we loaded coolers of hot and cold food into our SUV’s and reviewed our recipient lists and the delivery maps. Together we delivered about 100 meals in less than 2 hours to home-bound and disadvantaged residents in a West Dallas neighborhood. Many of the folks were elderly and challenged just to come to the door. Some of them responded “God bless” and “thank you Precious”. Some were not verbal at all, shoring up from the long walk to the door. But occasionally, a small smile waxed across a tired and weathered face. After a delivery, stepping from the porch back to the car I noticed I too had a smile. It dawned on me that in just a few small hours we were making the difference in lives of lots of folks that day on whether or not they would have a hot meal. Wow, this Sabre GiveTogether campaign does have a bite!
Another benefit to the VNA was that our driving saved them the added expense of paid drivers, vehicles and gasoline to deliver meals. This leaves them more funds to provide additional meals to those in need.
While we were participating in the training session, we took a tour of the building once inside the CEO’s office we saw this beautiful female red-tail hawk that was nesting on the building ledge with her young ones. I took some pictures. She seemed to have found a safe haven at The VNA..she was our gravy.
I put together this movie clip as a momento. The song is Cab Calloway’s 1940′s Everybody Eats When They Come to My House.
(click here for video)