Dear Readers, 

This story is very personal to me. It hits at the heart of one of the reasons I am able to remain “independent”. If you remember, in a previous blog, we talked about what independence might mean for those of us who are aging. I listed ways that people help me in my life, and because of their kind actions, I am able to continue to live alone. I cook my food and clean my house, do my laundry – you get the picture. I do what I am able to live in my own home; albeit my tiny house is an extension of the home where my daughter and her husband and children live. It is what I always called “mother-in-law” quarters. I have my own entrance, I am responsible for my rent, utilities, etc., and I live my life “independently” from my daughter and her family’s schedule. My daughter and her husband have full-time jobs, as well as two children. I never want to be a “burden” to them. Yes, I know. They love me dearly and would do anything to help me. However, finding other sources of help is important for me. It helps us all keep autonomy and a healthy relationship intact. Readers, do you remember this quote from Barb, one of our Longmont readers? She said, “mature adults actually develop interdependence, where they can live in harmony with and mutual dependence with others, and yet maintain a sense of independence”.

Today’s discussion is about grocery shopping and those who are helpers in the storm. Now loyal readers know this, but if you are new to the blog, I have been paralyzed for 28 years. I moved to Colorado when I retired. Before that, I owned my own home, drove my own car with hand controls and worked full-time – all with the use of my wheelchair to get me around. Now, those days are past and I no longer own a car; I travel by Via bus.

So back to those days before I moved here. When I needed to do my grocery shopping, I would get a canvas bag, get in my car and drive to the store. When I arrived, I would slide my body into my wheelchair from my driver’s side car door. I would go in the store and purchase all the dry goods and paper products that I needed – as long as they all fit in that canvas bag. Then, I would go to the check out, pay for those items and take them to my car’s trunk where I would line them up as close to the trunk lid opening as I could manage to reach. Next, I would go back in the store and purchase all of my fresh veggies, frozen food, dairy, etc., and pay for those items. Again, I would take them to my trunk to pack for the ride home. I would then slide back into my car’s front seat, store my wheelchair and drive home. It wasn’t the easiest process, but I loved that I was able to figure out a system to stay independent. Do you have tips, Readers, for maintaining your independence?

Now, living here in Colorado, I do not drive and I am older and have more body complications. That makes it very difficult and painful to try to shop. I no longer have the strength or balance to hold a canvas bag of groceries on my lap. This is where I introduce to you an agency that has been a life-saver for me: Cultivate. One of Cultivate’s programs is Carry Out Caravan – a program where volunteers grocery shop for people who are elderly and have difficulty shopping for themselves. I email my grocery list on Sunday, and every Tuesday morning a Cultivate volunteer delivers my groceries to me. The payment is handled by the store with my credit card information. 

The volunteer I am going to tell you about today is Gary Golter. Gary and I met by phone and I interviewed him through a Zoom visit. He is not the person that delivers my groceries to me, but his is a wonderful example of the heart and soul of the Cultivate volunteers. Now, as an aside, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the volunteer who does deliver for me: Lydia Tafoya. Lydia has been delivering groceries for Cultivate for more than 16 years. I have known her for the last three years; she is like family to me. She would bring my groceries to my table, and unpack the large bags so that everything is lying within reach for me to put away. However, in today’s season of the Coronavirus pandemic, I have not seen Lydia for several weeks. She has family members who are considered “vulnerable” to the virus and so she is social distancing at home and not able to deliver for me. The gentleman who has been delivering, Brad, comes to my door garbed in mask and gloves and leaves my grocery bags right inside my door. It is for my protection, as well as his, that we have such little interaction. It doesn’t diminish the gratitude I have for Brad, Lydia and other folks like Gary Golter. Reader, who are you grateful for during this pandemic era? Who are your helpers in the storm?

Gary grew up in a small farming community in Nebraska. Every morning at dawn, he with other family members would deliver milk to the town’s residents – six days a week at 17 cents a quart. After high school, Gary attended the University of Nebraska. He studied horticulture which is the practice of plant cultivation and management. Then in 1955, he joined the United States Army for the next two years. He was stationed in California and worked with our nation’s guided missiles. After completing his service to our country, Gary returned to his family’s Nebraska farm. While home, through a friend, Gary was introduced to Harriet and for him it was “love at first sight”. The couple married in 1957 and moved to Denver. 

Gary started his career. For the next twelve years, he worked in two different flower shops. By 1969, he started his own shop in Longmont, Colorado. “I liked working with the flowers and plants”, he said. It pleased him to see the pleasure people had with their flowers through the significant events in their lives: weddings, funerals, and parties, as an example. Located on Coffman street, Gary ran the business until he retired in 1998. At Gary’s retirement, his son (one of the Golter’s four children) bought out the flower shop and continues to run Longmont Florist to this day. 

Now retired, Gary decided to give his time as a volunteer. He remembered that after Gary’s mom had died, Meals on Wheel came into his dad’s home in Nebraska and helped him by providing meals. “That meant a lot to my dad and to me”, Gary said. So, he sought out the Meals on Wheels program here in Longmont and became a volunteer. For the past 21 years, Gary delivers meals to seniors who need assistance with getting a daily healthy meal. 

Seventeen years ago, he met someone who was delivering groceries for Cultivate’s Carry Out Caravan program. It struck a chord in Gary and he also became a Cultivate volunteer. Since that time, every Tuesday, Gary delivers groceries to an average of six seniors each week. “I like doing it”, Gary said. He knows his help is important to the recipients of his deliveries. Depending on the senior’s abilities, he may unpack groceries like Lydia did for me. One of his clients is blind and setting out the groceries in an organized fashion helps tremendously. For another client who has debilitating arthritis, Gary opens all the cartons and lids to make it easier for her when she serves herself.  “It makes me feel good to know that I am helping people”, he said. 

Now, we are living in a different time of life. With the Coronavirus pandemic, Gary is not able to help in all the specific ways that he could with his clients. However, he is still able to get the groceries to each senior’s home. Speaking for myself, that is a tremendous help! I am so grateful to folks like Gary, a senior himself, now 87 years old, and married to Harriet for 62 years. Between their four children they also have ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Yet, Gary still reaches out to others and continues week after week to deliver to folks who need this service. Through this COVID-19 era, Gary delivers the groceries wearing gloves and mask and can only leave the items at their door. “It’s a great program”, Gary said, “and I am glad I can be involved”. 

Remember, I mentioned that Gary used to own Longmont Florist? When Gary retired, his son bought the business. Well, this is the loveliness of life. With the pandemic, Gary invited his son to help with Cultivate.  Remember Brad? He’s my masked, gloved delivery person for now. Well, unbeknownst to all of us until right before this blog went to the publisher, but Brad is Gary’s son. I love how life gives us those wonderful surprises. Meeting Brad is such a lovely recognition of Gary modeling volunteerism and the sequence of events that follow when we make these good choices. 

Ruby ZaVals is Cultivate’s Program Specialist and Latino Outreach person. She and I also spoke through a Zoom meeting , and she told me about her work. She manages the Carry Out programs in Boulder and Longmont. Every week, Ruby oversees the work of the volunteers who do all that is needed to get the groceries delivered. Tuesday is the delivery day in Longmont, and Thursday is the day Boulder residents get their orders. 

Volunteers go through a background check that takes just a few moments working with the Cultivate employees. There are a number of positions that volunteers can fill. They may be the person that takes the order by phone or email. They could be the shopper or the person who does the double-check to be sure the order was filled correctly. They could be the bagger or the delivery person. There is a position called the floater, who rotates each week wherever there is a need. As well, during this pandemic time, they may also be the volunteer that helps with the sanitation process. It is another volunteer level that has been added to protect the volunteers and clients from Coronavirus germs.

Cultivate volunteers come in all sizes and ages. Ruby said they have younger children that help their parents on up to seniors like Gary. Now that schools are closed, they also have a number of college students who have offered to help. As well, with many out of work, some folks have turned their attention to helping others by becoming a Cultivate volunteer through this difficult time of social distancing and community shut-downs. 

Typically, before this pandemic season, Ruby would oversee an average 105 volunteers between both Longmont and Boulder. Now the number has jumped to more than 173. She likes to keep volunteers happy and really wants them to communicate with her if they are not pleased with the role they have chosen. Ruby is flexible about moving people into the position that best suits their skills. In the past, she also provided donuts and coffee for the volunteers as they met to start off their day. Now, the volunteer’s day is much longer because the need has grown. Ruby is also providing a breakfast to start volunteers on their way. “I try to make it a good experience for both the volunteers and the clients”, she said. 

You may ask what has changed since the virus invasion. Typically, the client list may have been close to 70. Now, it has jumped to over a 120, and the number keeps growing weekly. Let me give you a picture of what that may look like in my life. Before COVID-19, my groceries would typically arrive by 11 am and my grocery order would be filled. Now, groceries may not get to my home until past 2 pm. As well, some of the items ordered may not be on the grocery store shelves. Volunteers call me to look for other options, but we all recognize these are different times compared to what we were used to living. Cultivate, being sensitive to the needs of its clients, tries to help those who they know are struggling to get the items they need. Ruby said, when they are able, volunteers add in the client’s bags a roll of toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizers or Clorox – items needed through the pandemic.

Ruby not only oversees the program, but at times, has also been the person delivering groceries to the Cultivate clients. She said that she likes learning from the seniors. “I have grandparents that I care about, and I like knowing that I am helping others like them”. Ruby said that she thinks of the volunteers as “heroes”. She hopes that others will join with Cultivate to meet this need. Readers, who are the heroes in your life?

So, how can you help? You could become a volunteer. There are many ways that you can serve in this program. In addition, any donation you give will help with the cost of this program. It takes all of us to help meet the needs of those who are vulnerable in our communities. Send your offers to help or questions to this email, volunteers@cultivate.ngo and a Cultivate employee will get back to you soon. Readers, be a part of how we protect our community and help those in need. Tell us how you are doing that.

 

Last month’s blog was about Sally Whitson, a woman who started skating professionally in her 40s. Her spunk and energy inspired many of you. I need to make a correction in her story. Her students marched in President Kennedy’s inaugural parade, not his funeral parade. Readers Hena, Susan, Diana and Leif expressed their enjoyment about reading her story. Other readers had a little more to say. 

Linda: What an amazing woman!!!  Love your blogs!

Jan: Another great read!  That is amazing to start competing at 40. What a great way to keep in shape physically and mentally.

Vernie: Another interesting blog; shows we’re never too old to learn.       

Sharron: What a life she has had! How in the world did she have time and energy to skate raising four children?” I know she said it helped her to relax and relieve stress, but wow! That would take a lot of time to practice and practice. You captured her life so well! Kudos to you!

Maria: Amazing woman to start competing after 40! She kept in shape! 

Francis said, “She sounds like the lil’ engine that could. Great story!

Readers, Drop in With Debbie is now on Facebook and Instagram. Like and follow us to see my life as a senior, and see the stories of those we follow in the blog. I look forward to seeing you there. Share with your friends around the country so we can find and tell the lives of seniors everywhere. Like the Drop in with Debbie page on Facebook, or find me on Instagram with the handle @dropinwithdebbie or visit https://www.instagram.com/dropinwithdebbie/. 

As part of the social distancing time in which we are living, I am working with my grandchildren, Serafina and Carson, to create a Time Capsule to remember what we experienced and learned through this epic season in history. I created a poem and collage of my experiences to share with them. The poem reads: 

All in the house

Cooped up from germs

Homeschooling, cooking,

Binging on shows

Helping grandchildren six and two

Stay engaged and happy, too

Daughter’s a nurse in ICU

Her husband is caretaking children and home

His hours at work are down to a few

Finding Easter eggs in the snow

Grocery shelves empty

When do I boo-hoo?

Skies are clear from pollution

Hm… Is that a solution? 

Could we try something new? 

Keep a smile on our face

That is covered by a mask

This too shall pass

Coronavirus–adieu

 

If you have created a way to document our experience with the COVID-19, I hope, Readers, that you will share it with all of us. The virus is an equalizer of mankind. Let’s build upon our bonds with each other, and not let politics or fear separate us at a time when we most need each other to work together. 

Until next month, may peace be at your side,

Debbie Noel

We have several ways to interact with Debbie!

• Email her at DroppingInWithDebbie@gmail.com

• Register at the blog site (very bottom of the page) to have your comments viewed online

• Send your letters to:

Debbie Noel
C/o Longmont Senior Center
910 Longs Peak Avenue
Longmont, Colorado 80501

 

City of Longmont’s recommendations concerning the coronavirus based on CDC recommendations: COVID-19 News

You can regularly check in at https://www.longmontcolorado.gov/coronavirus to get the city’s latest updates.

** Cultivate started as just the federally-funded program RSVP program that connects volunteers with non-profits. Now, the agency still provides that program and has grown to offer many direct services such as Carry Out Caravan – a program where volunteers grocery shop for people who are elderly and have difficulty shopping for themselves. The volunteer base has grown substantially over the years; currently their youngest volunteer is 4 years old, a tyke who helps her mommy shop for those who need this service. To discover all the programs, volunteer or give a donation, contact: www.cultivate.ngo or email info@cultivate.ngo, Phone: 303-443-1933; mailing address: 6325 Gunpark Drive, #F, Boulder, Colorado 80301

** Meals on Wheels program provides nutritious meals for those unable to do for so for themselves

• Longmont Meals on Wheels; Call (303) 772-0540 or email at info@lmow.org  

    More information is available at: http://www.longmontmeals.org/faq

• Meals on Wheels of Boulder; Call (303) 441-3908 or email info@mowboulder.org 

    More information is available at: https://mowboulder.org/

 

** VIA offers resources and transportation services to older adults, people with disabilities and others living with mobility limitations. For more information or to give a donation, contact: https://viacolorado.org/  or email info@viacolorado.org  Phone: 303-447-2848; mailing address: Via Mobility Services, 2855 N. 63rd Street, Boulder CO 80301