Dallas weather is notoriously unpredictable. Sunny one day and literally freezing the next. When severe weather, emergency conditions, or holidays cause us to cancel our Meals on Wheels delivery, we have a plan in place. We provide two shelf-stable meals to all of our delivery clients. The clients keep the meals in their pantry, and we notify them when they should eat one of the shelf-stable meals. The shelf-stable meals have the same nutritional requirements as our hot meals and we've heard from some of our clients that they love them so much that they'd like to have them every day!

A typical shelf-stable meal might include a can of beef stew, strawberry applesauce, juice, saltine crackers, milk, and a blueberry cereal bar. Large volunteer groups help us pack up thousands of shelf-stable meals throughout the year. Last year was a mild winter and we delivered meals on every scheduled day. As we welcome winter this year, we hope our delivery streak continues. But if not, we know our clients won't go hungry!

The holidays are supposed to be times of meaning, celebration and fun. Yet when we are feeling deep sadness and grief over the death of someone we love, we often don't approach the holidays with the same sense of gladness and joy. Instead, they become times of dread, apprehension and anxiousness. We know it won't be the same this year without the loved one we have lost.

VNA provides extensive bereavement services to the community through phone calls, mailings, home visits, meetings, and events. If you are seeking support for you or someone close to you, please connect with one of our bereavement coordinators in your area by calling 1(800) Call-VNA.

Over the past eight years, Subaru has donated nearly $10 million to the Meals on Wheels network — that's equivalent to more than 1.4 meals to seniors across the country! Today through January 3, 2017, for every new Subaru vehicle leased or sold, Subaru will donate $250 to the customer's choice of participating charities. When you select Meals on Wheels America, VNA will receive a share of the revenue earned in Texas.

If you or your family members are in the market to purchase a new car, we'd like to Share the Love with you! Learn more here.

Just 19 days until Christmas! If you need an easy solution for sending Christmas card greetings to friends and loved ones, let VNA take this item off your to-do list by sending them for you. You'll love the beautiful look of the red and silver cards that are both tasteful and festive. Best of all, we'll customize each card with your name, message and promptly get it in the mail.

To arrange for your holiday cards, email your list to butchere@vnatexas.org or contact Elise at (214) 689-2606. Please consider sending a $12 donation for each card you would like sent and let us know if you’d like your donation designated for VNA Meals on Wheels or charitable hospice care.

As we enter the holiday season and pause to reflect on our many blessings, I am so grateful for you. As a volunteer, donor, or supporter of VNA, you make a difference in so many lives each day. Because of you, the homebound get fed, the sick are cared for, the bereaved are supported, the lonely are visited, and our community is transformed in big and small ways.

Thank you for your support and may you each have a meaningful and beautiful holiday season and a very happy new year!

Gratefully,

President & CEO VNA Texas

P.S. If you'd like to learn about a tax-saving way to help VNA, please click here.