Racing Legend Lauds DSCC Volunteers
Auto racing champion Mario Andretti paid tribute to DuPage County Meals on Wheels volunteers, and then personally joined them in delivering meals to several seniors during a November 20 visit to Bloomingdale. “The real winners are the volunteers who provide this service,” Mr. Andretti said, referring to the DuPage Senior Citizen Council (DSCC) volunteer drivers who deliver approximately 1,000 meals each day to homebound seniors in DuPage County. “Meals on Wheels is a wonderful program.”
Mr. Andretti, a long-time friend and supporter of the Meals on Wheels Program, was in the area to make an appearance on behalf of Bridgestone Retail Operations. Bridgestone is partnering with the Meals on Wheels of America Association (MOWAA) to help provide nutritional support to homebound seniors throughout the country. The DuPage Senior Citizens Council is the designated Meals on Wheels provider for DuPage County.
"We are proud to be a national partner of this important organization that works to end senior hunger," said Larry Magee, Chairman, CEO & President of BSRO, which is headquartered in Bloomingdale. BSRO operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world - more than 2,000 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States.
During a stop at the Bloomingdale Senior Center to pick up meals for delivery, Mr. Andretti presented a $500 donation to DSCC Executive Director Marylin Krolak on behalf of Bridgestone Retail Operations. Escorting the racing car legend during his meal deliveries in Bloomingdale was DSCC Home Delivered Meal Program Manager Julie Carco. She said the seniors receiving personal meal deliveries from Mr. Andretti were absolutely thrilled. “They were so excited to see him and he made each of his visits a personal connection. At one stop he even chatted in Italian with the client for several minutes when he found out the gentleman receiving the meal was also named Mario,” Ms. Carco said. Mr. Andretti began racing on dirt ovals in Pennsylvania in 1959, driving an old Hudson. He went on to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR. He also won races in midget cars, sprint cars, and drag racing.During his career, Mr. Andretti won four IndyCar titles (three under USAC-sanctioning, one under CART), the 1978 Formula One World Championship, and IROC VI. To date, he remains the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500 (1969), Daytona 500 (1967) and the Formula One World Championship. Mr. Andretti was named United States Driver of the Year in three decades (1967, 1978, and 1984).
Glendale Heights Officials Visit York Township Senior Center
On Tuesday February 23rd, Mayor Linda Jackson of Glendale Heights and members of her administration toured the facilities at York Township Hall focusing on the Senior Center and the programs and services available to York Township Senior Citizens.
Mayor Jackson said, “We came to visit last year when our new Senior Center was under construction and I was so impressed with the way York Township and the DuPage Senior Citizens Council operate that I wanted to visit again to get even more ideas about programs and services we can offer to the Senior Citizens of Glendale Heights.”
Supervisor Valle added, “It makes me very happy to know that the York Township Senior Center has such a wonderful reputation that other Senior Centers look to us as a good example of what local government can do to improve the quality of life for Senior Citizens.”
Meals on Wheels…For Pets?
Just about everyone has a lonely elderly neighbor whose best friend has paws and a tail. To help seniors who are struggling to feed their pets, we joined with Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) and Banfield the Pet Hospital to help seniors in DuPage County provide food for their furry loved ones. We All Love Our Pets (WALOP) is a pet food program that provides donated pet food to seniors. If you are a senior citizen in DuPage County and need help feeding your pet, please call us at 630-620-0804 and ask to be placed on the WALOP Waiting List.