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Your Impact Report

Homage Senior Services | 2021

As I write this letter, I find myself filled with gratitude for your extraordinary compassion and dedication to local community members in need of immediate, life-saving assistance. In this Impact Report, you will see evidence of the tremendous good you have done.

I know year two of the pandemic brought each of us into a world of rapid, at times almost vertiginous, change. Since 1973, Homage has focused its mission on promoting well-being for older adults and those with disabilities in Snohomish County. With your support and advice, we continued to adapt to the changing and intensified needs of those we serve. Thank you for your inspiration and connection.

People You Have Helped

Your generosity has impacted our diverse community. The people you have helped span different stages of life, income levels, ethnicity, and locations. Your kind heart means that our seniors, regardless of differences, know there is someone out there who cares.

You Changed Otto's Life Forever

At 67, Otto was living out of his car and grappling with chronic health issues. He struggled to find enough food and often went hungry. But then you intervened, changing Otto’s life forever.

Following a car accident and several medical procedures, Otto could no longer visit his local food bank. He was hungry and alone.

“As a homeless senior citizen living during the pandemic, it was common for me to search garbage cans for food,” Otto shared.

After searching for hours, the food Otto could scrounge up only made him sick. The cycle felt hopeless.

But then Otto saw a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. It was you and your caring heart that brought him a warm, nourishing meal.

It was a bright morning in September when Otto walked up to his local senior center. A staff member there let him know that as a senior experiencing homelessness, he qualified to receive meals through the Community Table Dining program. Otto was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude.

“I am humbled that people care enough to see that the elderly have food during the pandemic,” Otto shared.

Because of you, Otto has regular access to nourishing meals through his senior center. Today, he feels relief knowing there’s a safe place with caring staff he can always turn to for support and a hot lunch.

Nutrition Program

Every year, the demand for home-delivered meals continues to grow. Your generosity ensured lifesaving meals were delivered to isolated seniors faster and more efficiently. Not only that, you helped provide to-go lunches while senior centers remained closed and critical wellness checks for homebound individuals.

You Saved Pauline from Tragedy

Pauline was enjoying her nightly shower when suddenly the water turned ice cold. She carefully stepped out of the shower and quickly got dressed and ready for bed. The entire night, Pauline lay awake, fretting about who she could call for help and how much it would cost to fix the problem. She had no family or savings to count on.

Unbeknownst to Pauline, the problem was far worse than what she imagined. She didn’t know a disaster was just waiting to happen. It was your commitment and generosity that saved her life.

Later that week, Pauline’s Meals on Wheels delivery volunteer stopped by to deliver meals and check in on her. She told him her water tank didn’t seem to heat water anymore. He didn’t hesitate and called Minor Home Repair right away.

When the Minor Home Repair team arrived at Pauline’s home later that day, they noticed a faint smell of smoke. They quickly discovered the wiring in her 20-year-old water heater had caught fire! Immediately the fire was extinguished, and a new water heater was installed that very day.

Once again, Pauline looks forward to her nightly hot shower. She also sleeps a lot more soundly, knowing there are people like you who care about her safety. She knows help is just a phone call away.

Minor Home Repair Program

Assisting low-to-moderate income older adults and people with disabilities who cannot perform or afford home health and safety repairs.

You Provided Lyle a Safe Place to Live

Lyle walked into Homage desperate for help. Because of hoarding, his mobile home park was threatening to evict him. He had managed to clean up the yard but knew he needed to do more.

He shared about his grief from losing his wife, about having bipolar disorder, and a history of suicidal thoughts. He was forgetting things and getting more and more confused. He didn’t know what to do. He was only 67.

Because of support from donors like you, a Homage social worker was able to start working with Lyle. Then the pandemic struck and things got so much worse.

The Social Worker tried to support Lyle over the phone, but it wasn’t enough. Lyle didn’t have running water, or heat, he had received a foreclosure notice, and could barely move around the trailer due to ceiling-high stacks of hoarded possessions.

Needing to see with her own eyes what was happening, the social worker, dressed in PPE, went to Lyle’s home. She helped Lyle clean up the trailer and arranged for a Minor Home Repair person to come in and fix his sink and heat. She connected Lyle with free legal assistance to help fight the foreclosure but that fell through.

Finally, in early 2021, in partnership with a senior living advisor, a safe, clean, and warm home in assisted living was found for Lyle.

You are the reason Lyle now has a community of people looking out for him. His social worker remains in close contact with him and his doctors to ensure he stays safe and healthy for years to come.

Mental Health and Wellness Programs

Providing non-judgmental and compassionate support to those in need. Resources include depression screening, Older Adult Mental Health Access Line, wellness classes, and more all free of charge for adults ages 60 and over.

Thank you to our dedicated supporters

You have made an important difference in our community. You are the reason this impact report is full of inspiring stories. Because of your generosity, more seniors and people with disabilities are well-nourished, safe, and healthy.

Thank you to our compassionate volunteers

Last year volunteering looked a little different, but the hearts of our amazing group of volunteers remained the same. Nearly 600 individuals devoted their time and talents to helping seniors and people with disabilities.

You are a lifesaver.

You are the reason this impact report is full of inspiring stories. You can make a gift below to help even more seniors and people with disabilities stay safe and nourished.

Created By
Bekka Austin
Appreciate