Someone stole a Meals on Wheels delivery van just before Thanksgiving on Monday, Nov. 21, delivering a shocking blow to the already stretched program.
But a week later on Wednesday, Nov. 30, SEFCU replaced that stolen vehicle with a brand new one.
“To me, it’s unconscionable that someone would steal anything, let alone a van that services those in need and especially the day before Thanksgiving,” said SEFCU President and CEO Michael Castellana.
With the help of Jim Morrell of Albany Dodge, SEFCU purchased a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan for Senior Services of Albany, which runs MOW.
“We’ve been fortunate to have the community step up to the plate and really help us out in this crunch,” said Donna Vancavage, director of development at Senior Services of Albany. “It was a hardship to have a vehicle stolen and we’re extremely grateful for the community and support they can give us in helping us provide these vital services to seniors.”
ShopRite also donated 1,000 emergency meals for seniors, which are used during the winter months if bad weather prevents MOW from making deliveries.
“That’s money we don’t have to spend out. … As reimbursements from the government and government support continue to go down, we have to do a lot more in terms of fundraising to make up for that deficit,” said Vancavage. “Not having to spend money on something being donated is huge savings to us.”
Helping neighbors in need is all part of SEFCU’s mission, said Castellana.
“We view our mission as to support people in our communities and work very hard to be a top notch financial institution to allow us to be able to do that,” said Castellana. “We have a long history of giving and while much of it is planned, this issue that came out of nowhere warranted our jumping in to help.”
Before the theft, MOW had a delivery fleet of 13. Many of those vehicles are old with lots of miles, though, so the newly donated van is an even sweeter surprise.
“Having a newer vehicle helps us, especially in winter months. We don’t have to worry about vehicles breaking down now with a reliable means of transportation,” said Vancavage.
Without SEFCU’s donation and lacking the financial means to acquire a replacement van on its own, Vancavage said Senior Services would have “hit the pavement” to solicit community help.
“We would have just gone out … talking to the community about the support we need for vehicles, which we’re always doing,” said Vancavage.
In fact, most of the vehicles are donated by people who no longer need them, which is why they tend to be older models. MOW has a fleet of 13 and Senior Services has a fleet of seven to drive clients to appointments, the store or to visit friends.
“Typically, once a vehicle really gets worn out on the transportation side, if it’s replaced by something newer that older vehicle will go over as just a delivery vehicle for MOW if it works out,” said Vancavage.
MOW vans travel at least 1,500 miles a day to deliver about 1,000 meals and Senior Services provides about 25,000 transportation trips to seniors each year, said Vancavage.
What Senior Services does in the community each day far outweighs SEFCU’s own contribution to the organization, said Castellana.
“We’re pleased to be able to ride the coattails of these special organizations who just serve people in need,” said Castellana. “It’s really those organizations that do the heavy lifting and support our community.”