July 2025 Volunteer Newsletter

Elizabeth Meyer
Jul 2
4 min read

For the past two and a half years, Lile and Eric Ellefsen have been dedicated Volunteers, delivering meals to clients in the Mead area every week. After moving to Spokane to be closer to family and enjoy the peace, quiet, and recreational opportunities, they didn’t want to just “take” – they also wanted to give back to the community and connect with others. Volunteering has not only allowed them to explore new roads but also to dive deeper into the heart of the community. One of their favorite

parts of volunteering is building relationships with clients – like Lola, who brightens their day each week and even invited them to witness her baptism last year. Outside of Meals on Wheels, Lile is an avid scull and sweep rower and active with the Spokane River Rowing Association, while Eric enjoys golf and also volunteers at the Mead Food Bank. Together, they love traveling, hiking, gardening, reading, and welcoming friends into their home as they travel. They’re active at St. Luke Lutheran Church and are proud Gonzaga basketball fans. Lile and Eric also want to extend their thanks to all the volunteers and staff who help make Spokane a better place to live!

He’s only been volunteering with us for two months, but David Affeldt has already made quite the impression! As a volunteer at the Silver Cafe in Airway Heights, David brings warmth and wit to every shift, sharing stories with our seniors. “They call me a youngster,” he says. “I really enjoy the time we spend together, swapping stories about past adventures and future thoughts.”

David’s path to Meals on Wheels began after retiring from substitute teaching in the local school districts. Even in retirement, “I still wanted to be active in serving my community in a

productive fashion,” he explains. “Meals on Wheels afforded me an opportunity to serve others, meet people, share a kind word of encouragement, and most importantly, feel that my contribution is appreciated.” David’s been married to his high school sweetheart for 50 years. Together, they’ve raised two children and have six grandchildren. They love to travel, and life has taken them around the world, both through the military and personal adventures. Whether by plane, train, automobile, or ship, David loves to explore. And his advice to others? “Put down the cell phone, engage people face-to-face, and when you learn about a place you want to see ... do it. Watching a video is a poor substitute for actually putting your feet on the ground somewhere in the world.”

We’re lucky to have David, and we’re so glad he chose Meals on Wheels GSC as his next adventure!

We Will Be Closed Friday, 4th of July

To ensure our clients are covered during these closures, home delivery drivers will be given extra frozen meals to distribute the week prior. Please keep an eye out for these additional meals and thank you for helping us make sure no one goes hungry! For our servers, there will be no meal service those days. If you usually serve on Fridays, thank you for keeping this in mind. If you’re available to help out on a different day that week, let us know - we’d love the help!

Meals on the Move Bingo!

July 11, 2025 | 7-9PM | West Plains Brewing

July 15, 2025 | 7-9PM | 291 Brewhouse

Enjoy 5 rounds of bingo with prizes, with 1 free bingo card per round. Additional bingo cards available for $5

Night Out at the Indians!

July 30, 2025 | 6:35PM | Avista Stadium

Purchase your ticket HERE!

Be a Fundraiser for Our New Annual Fun Run: Step Up For Seniors!

September 27, 2025 | 9:30AM | Greenwood Memorial Terrace

Join us for a day of celebration, community, and fun in support of our local seniors! Click HERE, get registered, and start fundraising! Its never too early to start!

Be a Server at our Annual Gala, Cooking for a Cause!

October 25, 2025 | 5PM | Shriner's Event Center

Be a server at our annual gala that brings together culinary excellence and community impact, all in support of providing nutritious meals and companionship to local seniors in need. Interested? Contact Ben (benl@mowgsc.org) for more information!

Are You Using Our Mobile Meals App?

It’s a free app for your smart phone that you can use to navigate through your route - mark meals as delivered, call the office or your client, and even write notes to our client care team. Chat with us at the office

to get going with the app today!

Happy Summer!

If you have other obligations or vacations coming up, please let us know as soon as possible. The sooner we know, the easier it is to find a substitute to fill your spot.

Did Your Client Set Out a Cooler?

Hot weather is here! Make sure that icepacks are frozen solid to ensure each of our clients’ meals stay fresh and safe. One of your clients needs an icepack? No problem - we have extras!