Douglas County Commissioners, Tim Freeman, Chris Boice and Tom Kress honored Michael & Janice Williams with the Douglas County Senior Services Volunteer of the Month award for June 2022. The commissioners surprised the couple with the award at the annual Senior Services Volunteer BBQ held at River Forks Park earlier this month.
“It was my pleasure to be able to present, not one, but two Senior Volunteer of the Month awards for June. We honored the service of dynamic delivery duo, Michael & Janice Williams. Many thanks to the couple for making a difference in the lives of the seniors on their route.” – Commissioner Kress
Darla Hilburn, Food Service Coordinator for Douglas County Senior Services, nominated the Williams as Douglas County Senior Services Volunteers of the Month for June. She said, “Michael & Janice never miss a day. They’re 100% dependable and so very nice. They have especially taken the time to become friends with each person on their route, which was very important to them.
Michael and Janice moved to the Green area seven years ago after living in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada for several decades where they owned and operated Klulane Lake Lodge – ‘way out in the bush’. The Williams opted to make their home in Douglas County after falling in love with its ideal location – halfway between their son in Canada and their daughter in California. Married 65 years, the couple does most things together, and they’ve been serving as a dynamic delivery duo for the Meals on Wheels program through the Bistro Sixty Winston Dining Site since 2018. They say their favorite part is conversing and visiting with the clients on their route.
Janice said, “She’s not the talkative one, that’s Michael! He has been able to make those who are shut in and feeling cantankerous, ‘un-cantankerous!’ It is a good feeling to look forward to seeing everyone on our route regularly. We are usually the last drivers to return because we don’t rush visiting time. We don’t leave the delivery until the clients are finished visiting us!”
The couple faithfully delivers 12-15 hot meals to senior clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Winston area. When they are not volunteering at the Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Site in Winston, the couple spends time volunteering for the Umpqua Fisherman’s Association.
Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Site in Winston currently prepares meals on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Winston Community Center, located at 440 SE Grape Avenue in Winston. There are three Meals on Wheels routes delivering meals twice a week to forty-five households in the Winston area. Bistro Sixty Winston is in dire need of volunteers, a driver for much-needed fourth route and food service workers to serve up dine-in service to approximately twenty guests each time. Douglas County Senior Services staff know there are others in the Winston-Dillard communities who could benefit from their Meals on Wheels delivery program and meals at their Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Site in Winston. If residents know of friends or family who are unable to drive, need assistance with daily living activities, would benefit from meal delivery or a hot meal or other help, they are encouraged to call the Aging & Disabilities Resource Connection in the Douglas County Senior Services Department at (541) 440-3677 or by sending an email to adrc@co.douglas.or.us.
“We really appreciate our Bistro Sixty volunteers. We consider the work they do some of the most important work we do in County government – caring for our seniors is absolutely vital and volunteers like Michael and Janice continue to make our program so successful.” – Commissioner Freeman
Douglas County’s seven rural Senior Dining Sites and Meals on Wheels programs are managed by Douglas County Senior Services staff, but the programs are successful because of the dedication of volunteers like Michael & Janice. To get involved with Douglas County Bistro Sixty Senior Dining Sites and Meals on Wheels programs or to learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Darla Hilburn at the Douglas County Senior Services Department via email at dahilbur@co.douglas.or.us or by calling (541) 440-3677.
Source: https://douglascounty-oregon.us/DocumentCenter/View/21751/06-28-22-Douglas-County-Commissioners-Honor-Michael-Janice-Williams
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