For many residents who receive meals from Meals on Wheels of Tampa in Florida, the interaction they have with the volunteer delivering their meal may be the only person they will talk to that day. Lucy Terrill, Director of Strategic Planning and Analysis – Mosaic, and long-time volunteer for Meals on Wheels, says those interactions are what makes volunteering with the organization so rewarding.
When Lucy first started her career, she was new to the community. A colleague recommended volunteering for a non-profit to gain leadership experience and network in her new hometown.
“I knew I wanted to support an organization with a mission that I felt a strong connection to,” shares Lucy. “Around that same time, my grandmother started to experience challenges with mobility and a Meals on Wheels organization in her community began bringing her meals to extend the length of time she could live independently. The synergistic nature of supporting someone else’s parents or grandparents while they supported mine was very compelling.”
Since 2004, Lucy has been a passionate volunteer with Meals on Wheels. The organization supports seniors and homebound individuals by delivering fresh, nutritious meals to their door, providing them with the right to live independently in their own homes for as long as it is safely possible. As a Board and Executive Committee member, she spends most of her volunteer time working with other business leaders to provide guidance and resource oversight so that the organization can continue to serve the significant needs throughout Hillsborough County.
Thanksgiving deliveries are among some of Lucy’s fondest memories with the organization. Volunteers deliver a traditional meal, complete with a fresh pie and homemade cards from local children. “I really enjoy when I get out to deliver a route to Meals on Wheels recipients – taking a hot, fresh, nutritious meal out to community members who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to leave their homes to get food or experience challenges in preparing their meals. We often share stories of family and friends, which makes the deliveries an exciting point in the recipient’s day – and I am glad to be a part of those moments.”
Mosaic now rewards Lucy’s dedication to Meals on Wheels through the Mosaic Employee Giving Program by matching up to $2,000 per employee per year for logged volunteer hours and financial contributions to local organizations.
“I am thrilled with this new program! I track my volunteer hours for both Meals on Wheels and as a leader for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop and really appreciate the way that Mosaic is supporting employee volunteerism and giving by matching donations of time and funds,” said Lucy.
