Prudential Verani Realty Receives Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award

The following is a speech delivered by Volunteer Coordinator Amy Berthiaume about Prudential Verani Realty’s involvement with the CareGivers, a volunteer program whose goal is to help the elderly and disabled remain in their homes as long as possible.

John MacGilvary, left, with volunteer award

One thing for certain, the Prudential Verani Realty Group is certainly familiar with Manchester and Nashua area neighborhoods as a result of making monthly deliveries for our Caring Cupboard. And, their work at supplementing homebound seniors’ limited financial budgets with free groceries certainly makes them great community neighbors.

Led by John MacGilvary, a CareGivers board member, a Prudential Verani team of 21 volunteers worked a delivery night in January of 2010.

They loved the experience of delivering the food and helping homebound elderly folks unpack and put away the groceries. Many wanted to do it again. They returned in March, and, every month thereafter.

To date, the Prudential Verani team has engineered 21 deliveries over the past two years. And, they are slated to work next Thursday’s delivery. To the CareGivers Caring Cupboard program, this group is as consistent as sunrise and as nurturing as sun rays.

We faithfully rely and count on this dedicated crew to make 25 percent of our monthly deliveries to 250 households. Each month, as regular as clockwork, they assume responsibility for 20 delivery routes, providing needed food to about 70 homes.

In total, they have knocked on 693 doors and unpacked about 84,000 pounds of groceries inside the kitchens of grateful individuals, striving to lead a dignified independent life on meager fixed incomes.

This team, which has involved over 50 different volunteers, has logged a lot of miles while searching out the homes and apartments of clients residing in Manchester, Nashua, Hooksett, Hollis and Hudson. They’ve lugged many a heavy canvas tote bag up a lot of stairs, and – as a result – made a lot of people smile and give thanks before mealtime.

Fourteen Prudential Verani team members have taken part in at least 15 different deliveries. Now that’s commitment. This list includes some people that are in attendance tonight: John, Bob and Peg Walther, Pam Gould, Patty Bixby and Steve White.

Prudential Verani has taken great strides in helping ensure the success of our Caring Cupboard food delivery program and deserves our Outstanding CareGivers Volunteer Group of the Year award.