Volunteers are still needed for the 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. shifts at the Perry Lutheran Home’s Meals from the Heartland event Wednesday, April 5.
Volunteers will help package meals destined to will feed undernourished people across the U.S. and overseas. When not working the Meals from the Heartland assembly line, visitors can take in engaging dementia simulations and “Music and Memory” demonstrations at the main campus of the Perry Lutheran Home at 2323 Willis Ave.
“Hosting this event gives us an opportunity to open our doors and invite others to live out our mission of ‘serving Christ through serving others,’” said the Rev. Max Phillips, chief executive officer of the Perry Lutheran Home.
With help from about 260 volunteers, the Perry Lutheran Home has set a goal to package 22,000 meals between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. About 40 volunteers are needed for each of the seven one-hour shifts throughout the day.
Accommodations will be available for volunteers needing to sit during their shifts. Along with volunteers packaging meals, the Perry Lutheran Home welcomes any monetary donations to help cover the $4,500 cost of the food for the meals.
The free dementia simulations will offer a new feature to the annual charity event. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 5.5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2017. The Perry Lutheran Home has been recognized by LeadingAge Iowa for their innovation and excellence in memory care initiatives every year since 2014.
“As leaders in the field of memory care, it is our role to help educate family, friends, and members of the community to better understand what many people are going through on a daily basis that struggle with dementia,” Phillips said.
“Music and Memory” demonstrations will also be available to showcase this innovative, personalized and unique approach to memory care. The Perry Lutheran Home is one of the few certified “Music and Memory” providers in Iowa.
As an internationally recognized organization, the “Music and Memory” certification ensures families that their loved ones have access to the transformative, therapeutic benefits of personalized music. Certification also marks the organization’s commitment to person-centered care.
Donations of new or gently used iPod shuffles and iTunes gift cards for this program are greatly needed and appreciated and can be dropped off at any time.
Interested persons are encouraged to sign up today to volunteer to package meals or to make a monetary donation. For more information, contact Quinn Adair at the Perry Lutheran Home at 515-465-5342 or Quinn.Adair@PerryLutheranHome.org.
