Give to the Max 2020

2020 has been an undeniably challenging year. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest impacting parts of our service area, Southeast Seniors has continued to serve older adults in our community in new and innovative ways. We ask for your support so we can continuing serving clients like Florence, who tells you in her own words why supporting Southeast Seniors is more vital right now than ever. 

 Q: How did you first connect with Southeast Seniors? 

A: “Supporters beforehand, Walter and I became clients soon after his 2010 stroke. When we needed help getting him to many doctor appointments, Southeast Seniors volunteers cheerfully drove and always waited to take us home. They’d say ‘this is our way of giving back’!” 

Q: What is a Southeast Seniors highlight you’d like to share? 

A: “Walter once fell when we were in Delaware for Thanksgiving. We called Southeast Seniors over the holiday weekend, explaining the situation and our plan to return on Monday. Early Tuesday morning, their nurse arrived to our home. She and the Service Coordinator restocked groceries, recognized the urgency of follow-up medical attention, and supported us through hours of waiting for Walter to get admitted to the hospital. Without their help, I would have been lost!” 

Q: How have you noted Southeast Seniors pivoting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic? 

A: “Southeast Seniors shares ongoing phone support to me, plus new programs to address seniors’ emerging needs. My Southeast Seniors’ Lunch Bunch group now meets via Zoom, plus I’ve joined other their new phone-based journaling group and their book club co-hosted by the Arvonne Fraser Library via Zoom. We’re shut-ins now, but it makes such a difference to have groups where we belong.” 

Q: What impact does Southeast Seniors have on the community as a whole? 

A: “Southeast Seniors supports seniors aging in place. Minneapolis can be a difficult place to live for people who don’t drive or use a computer. But Southeast Seniors helps; they’re like family. They cultivate a sense of community with staff and volunteers who care about us as individuals.” 

Q: What else do you feel people should know about Southeast Seniors? 

A: “If you can contribute, that will be great. Share your time, and/or share your money. Any amount of either is appreciated! If our country operated like Southeast Seniors, it would be so well off. We get so busy counting this, that, and the other thing in life, we can forget what really counts. Southeast Seniors knows what counts!”