Bob and Charlotte – please see response below from the coordinator at St Pat’s – that is normally the case where we have sites – so the pre-calls are up to you but I don’t believe, based on this feedback and the calls I made today that is necessary.
The one thing I neglected to add to my response e-mail earlier is to not send the meals out too early – I know the drivers are anxious to get them out – when Frank and I started the program in North Adams at St. Anthony’s we would have some of our drivers there shortly after 10:30, ready, eager and ready… but as I explained to Steve and Gail in the kitchen – the clients have been advised to expect the meals between 11:30 and 12:30 – that is their normal weekly schedule and that of St. Pat’s and St. Theresa’s when they deliver on Sunday…I’m not sure if the clock in the kitchen was accurate, but my observation was that the initial set of drivers were in transit a bit earlier than necessary…as I’m sure you understand, our clients are basically on a timeset – pretty much everything in their life is on the clock and when that is disrupted, they just don’t adjust to well. Please accept this as constructive in-put and not anything but that to enhance your beautiful service to the community.
Blessings,
Kathleen
________________________________________
From: marklambert
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 7:01 PM
To: takeandeat@verizon.net
Subject: Fwd: Re: FW: S. Hadley/Granby Clients
What we have found is that the majority of clients are home or call and let us know they will be out. Having phone numbers so you can double check when you get to the door is all we have needed.
Mark and Mary
________________________________________
From: take and eat [mailto:takeandeat@verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:03 AM
To: ddmber@... 'Mom Duguay'; Mark@Pryor...
Subject: S. Hadley/Granby Clients
Dear Deb, Barb and Mark,
I was out your way yesterday for the “Foods For Friends” at Center Church, first meal…they did a great job and all of the Churches involved really worked so smoothly together – we’re very pleased that there is yet another weekend of coverage for the senior homebound community in your area – 4 out of 5!!! Thanks to you all.
Their Driver Coordinator e-mailed me last night regarding some clients who were not at home to receive their meal (I’m awaiting the client names so I can call them and check out the reason they weren’t there)…he is asking if I think they should call them on the Friday before the meal to remind them…my position is that our clients have been instructed that they must be at home to receive the meal – except in those instances where they might be taken to Church and arrive home after meal delivery time, in which case special instructions about leaving the meal in a cooler or with a neighbor, would be provided to the driver.
Also, if we know that a person perhaps is suffering from dementia or simply has trouble remembering certain details, we would give them a “heads up” – but so far as I know we don’t have any clients in your area with this situation. Appreciate your letting me know if there are any clients who your experience dictates a “reminder call” and I would certainly share that with them.
Thanks so much as always,
Kathleen
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Kathleen:
ReplyDeleteThank you for that most helpful response... That commentary will reassure our drivers that we can and are taking into account the learning experiences of other programs. We will “watch the clock” a little differently in November because of this helpful feedback.
We had a Center Church Missions Committee meeting tonight where Charlotte and I reported to the other Missions Committee members about our success on Saturday, and Allan reported well on our Food For Friends finances. We find that we have a good problem right now: Too much food and too many volunteers! That’s the kind of problem we can deal with!
- Bob