On May 7, the Mayor and City Council of Federal Way devoted a portion of their meeting to honoring volunteers from two Senior Services’ programs: Meals on Wheels and Volunteer Transportation.  Cindy Zwart, Director of the Transportation Program, highlighted the significant impact both VT drivers and MOW volunteers have on the Federal Way community.  She reported that there are currently 29 active Federal Way volunteer drivers, who transported 67 area seniors to various appointments in 2012. Another 18 volunteers supported Meals on Wheels in various ways (calling and computer recording in the office, packing, and driving/delivering the meals) to deliver 16,795 nutritious meals to 87 Federal Way seniors.   Mayor Priest was quick to point out, though, that these numbers mean nothing compared to the life-changing benefits experienced by clients of these programs on an individual level; there is no way to quantify the value of such assistance.

Cindy echoed these sentiments in her remarks.  She shared, "I have been working at Senior Services for over 22 years now, but I started out as a volunteer driver, and I know first-hand the dramatic impact our volunteers have on the lives of seniors in King County who would be unable to get to essential medical appointments or eat nutrition meals without the personalized service provided by our volunteers...  None of our volunteers expect any thanks or recognition for what they do, but I think it is important to recognize the invaluable contributions they make to their community, to recognize the profound and positive impact they have on all the seniors whose lives they touch during the course of their volunteer duties..."

 Thus, the “Volunteer Spotlight” event allowed the City of Federal Way to publicly express its gratitude for the unique and  important work of our volunteers.   It was a humbling and uplifting occasion.

Meals on Wheels /Volunteer Transportation volunteers and staff pose with the Federal Way Mayor and City Council.