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March for Meals 2015 - Celebrating Seniors

Detroit Holiday Meals on Wheels - Easter Volunteers Needed

Everyone needs a helping hand - especially our seniors.

Detroit Holiday Meals on Wheels

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Holiday Meals On Wheels Easter Delivery

8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Sunday April 5, 2015

The Detroit Area Agency on Aging is looking for volunteers to assist with the delivery of 3,500 meals to homebound seniors in Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes.

Greater Emmanuel Church of God in Christ 19190 Schaefer Hwy    Detroit, MI 48235 Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs 5461 Brush St. (corner of Ferry) Detroit, MI 48201   Franklin Wright Settlements   3360 Charlevoix St (west of Mt. Elliott)    Detroit, MI 48207   Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church 18751 Fenkell Ave Detroit, MI 48223   Christ Church   960 E. Jefferson   Detroit, MI 48207

New Light Baptist Church    5240 W. Chicago Blvd. Detroit, MI 48204 Alpha Phi Alpha/Optimists 293 Eliot Detroit MI 48201 New Prospect Church  19940  Livernois Detroit, MI 48221 St. Moses The Black 1125 Oakman Blvd. Detroit, MI  48238 Matrix Center 13560 E. McNichols Detroit, MI  48205

Background history checks are required for all delivery volunteers age 18 and older.

To volunteer to deliver from one of these sites, RSVP to

Detroit Area Agency on Aging at (313) 446-4444, ext. 5605 or

email hmow@daaa1a.org

Remember, Hunger Takes No Holiday”

Paul Bridgewater, President & CEO

Detroit Area Agency on Aging

                                                                         

                            

Holiday Meals On Wheels Easter Packing

The Detroit Area Agency on Aging is looking for volunteers to assist with packing 3,500 meals to homebound seniors in Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes.

We need your help more than ever!

Come and participate in a Detroit tradition and

join us in packaging meals for seniors at:

Valley Services, 1980 Bagley, Detroit, MI 48216

[at the corner of Rosa Parks Blvd. and Bagley near old Tiger Stadium]

COLD PACKAGING
Friday, April 3, 2015
8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

HOT MEAL PACKAGING
Easter
Sunday, April 5, 2015
6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Call (313) 446-4444 Ext. 5605

True Confessions of a Diabetic

By Paul Bridgewater

I’m a diabetic. There, I said it. I typically don’t share that with many people, but I was diagnosed with this diabolical disease that plagues about 29 million Americans at least two decades ago.

I fully know how to manage my diabetes, but I don’t manage it well. 

In fact, I run the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, where we host diabetes self-management training. I don’t attend. I’m supposed to monitor my blood sugar two or three times daily. I might check it once. I’m supposed to eat small, healthy low-carb meals all day. I might get in two large meals between meetings and other obligations.

 I’m supposed to start my day with breakfast. Truth is, most days I don’t eat my first meal until after noon or 1 p.m., hours after I rise. By this time, my blood sugar level has plummeted so low that I grab anything I can get quickly, fried chicken, burgers -- anything defined as fast food. Every night is capped with an insulin injection. I remember to do that.

Oh, yes, I also fail to exercise regularly. I know I’m supposed to get in some movement at least 30 minutes a day three times a week, however, I tell myself I’m too busy.

Since I know what I’m supposed to do, I often ask myself why I don’t do it. Why won’t I do it? I haven’t come up with a satisfactory answer. I don’t know if it’s frustration or emotional giving up. Perhaps, it’s a form of denial that I’m diabetic. I don’t want this disease controlling my life; I want to be able to eat what I want, when I want, live the lifestyle that ultimately contributed to my diabetes. I make improvements, fall off the wagon, get angry at myself and sing the blues.

I have trouble scheduling my life around this disease and I keep telling myself I’ll do better tomorrow or I’ll get on the right track starting Monday. I’m going to plan my meals, pack my food for the work day, and eat more fresh produce and work on balancing my life. Then, it somehow doesn’t happen. I know better.

I also know that my mother’s side of the family has been devastated from blindness and other eye problems, amputations, strokes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attacks and pre-mature death, all associated as diabetes complications. I know that if I don’t get a better handle on my management, it may catch up with me, too. I think about it every day.

As I reflect on this, I understand the seriousness of diabetes, so I’m sharing publicly I’m going to change. It’s a new year, so I’m renewing my mind. I’m committing myself to reading labels while grocery shopping, pre-planning and balancing. I’m even going to attend the next diabetes management training.

But I confess I need some help. I need diabetes buddies or accountability partners, and we can help keep one another on track. If you’re interested, I’ll be the diabetes buddy clearinghouse and we’ll create a support system for ourselves. 

Head over to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/paul.bridgewater.779 and post your comments there – or you can email me at bridgewaterp@daaa1a.org. I’m going to change; I just need a little help from my friends. We’ll do this together. 

Paul Bridgewater, President and CEO, Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA), hosts "The Senior Solution" on WCHB Newstalk 1200AM, Saturdays at 10 a.m. DAAA is located at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207; (313) 446-4444;  www.daaa1a.com

 Want to know more about the DAAA Diabetes Self-management program? Click here

How Diabetes Affects Minority Groups Infographic

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