From left: Voices member Nanci Odom with one of the 400 bags donated by Sprouts Farmers Markets; Voices members gather to fill Meals on Wheels gift bags; project organizer Karen McDaniels, right, supervises loading bags for delivery to Denton County Meals on Wheels.
By Jane Scholz
Voices United, a progressive women's group at Robson Ranch, pulled together cash and personal care items valued at about $5,000 for 400 seniors and families who use Denton County Meals on Wheels.
Tax-deductible gifts -- cash and in-kind donations from members, and other Robson residents -- paid for holiday gift bags to be distributed by Meals on Wheels volunteers right after Thanksgiving. Voices is a 501c3 organization.
On a sunny November afternoon, about 30 masked members gathered on the street in front of Nanci Odom's home to put the thousands of items into 400 bags donated by Sprouts Farmers' Market. Nanci and project organizer Karen McDaniels put together an efficient 10-station production line and the job was done, with a lot of laughter and fun, in about 90 minutes.
“This is the second time Voices has provided gift bags for Meals on Wheels,” said Karen McDaniels, co-chair of Voices Outreach Committee, “but the numbers are double this year as Covid-19 has put thousands of people out of work and swelled the numbers getting Meals on Wheels from 200 to 400 a week.
Voices worked with two other Robson groups to fill the bags: Material Girls made a mask for every gift bag and the Sassy Stampers made gift cards for each bag.
“VU decided to provide 'a little something extra' for each recipient to bring joy and happiness during the holiday season,” McDaniels said. “The gift bags contain items that are both useful and cheerful.”
To see the names of those who contributed or volunteered their time, go to www.voicesunitedrr.org/MoW.