Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Life Styles celebrates possibilities
Meals on Wheels gets a lift
Life Styles Inc. invited guests to “Fly Up With Life Styles” for the annual Celebration of Possibilities luncheon March 8 at the Fayetteville Town Center.
Emily LeBlanc and her son Daniel, a Life Styles client, provided the keynote address and shared with luncheon guests their experiences with the organization that serves individuals with disabilities, helping them become contributing members of our community.
Emily said Daniel’s participation in the nonprofit organization’s Project Launch has helped him learn how to save money, cook and make friends, among other accomplishments. Program courses include customer service, interview skills, job ethics, community exploration and finance management.
She said the program enables participants to “live in the community, have jobs and gives them hope. Thank you (Life Styles) for training Daniel, for training me and for training the community.”
The luncheon is an opportunity for the nonprofit organization to celebrate clients, staff members, volunteers, client employers and community partners.
This year’s Community Partnership awards went to:
■ US Pizza — Employer of the Year.
■ Alicia and Nate Brown Family — Volunteer Group of the Year.
■ Love Hope & Cure Designs — Volunteer Company of the Year.
■ Dave Arambel, Brian Miller — Volunteers of the Year.
■ And Robert Rose — Carol Hart Visionary Award.
Those “flying up with Life Styles” included Cindy and Miles Johnson, Ross Platner, Carol and Bill Hart, Terrye Brosh, Sue and David Van Bebber, Brock Gearhart, April and Craig Shy, Karen and Warren McDonald, Bo Bittle and Jennifer Maynard.
Meals on Wheels of Benton County got a lift from the inaugural “League of Champions luncheon” hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors on March 14 as part of the nationwide March for Meals support drive.
Approximately 25 to 30 volunteers for Meals on Wheels deliver 260 meals on five routes five days a week, in an area that includes Rogers, Pea Ridge, Little Flock, Beaver Shores and Lowell. Debra Torres, office administrator, said the group would like to increase the number of volunteers to 100 to allow them to serve Bentonville and Bella Vista.
The meal delivery program serves homebound seniors without a caregiver at home — ensuring they get something to eat, have a visit and a safety check. Through some 5,000 independently run local programs nationally, the organization serves some
2.4 million seniors.
Those helping move meals to seniors in need included Michael Jeffcoat, Jim Mangold, Michael Chase, Hayes Minor, Keith Foster, Alqueeah Cates, Patti Higgins and Noelle and Arlan Coulson.
For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.