STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Senior Connection celebrated volunteers who contributed 4,000 hours of volunteer service over the past year with bacon chicken burgers this week.

Board Chair Don Cunningham told attendees that the Senior Connection served more than 26,000 meals during 2024, provided more than 6,000 hours of home care and made 3,000 transports to doctor appointments and other activities.

Debra Hall and two of her agents at Hallmark Idaho Properties served strawberry lemonade, iced tea and caramel cookies to 85 attendees.

About 85 people turned out for the luncheon.

“This is a great organization,” she said. “I like the Wheels on Meals—whoops, Meals on Wheels—program and how they take meals to people’s homes. No one in this valley should have to go hungry.”

Today the Hailey organization will start construction on a carport for its bus and Meals on Wheels vans. The $308,000 project, due to be finished in August, is being funded by a Community Development Block Grant from the Idaho Department of Commerce and donations.

“It’s just too dangerous for our volunteers when it the snow piles up on top of those vehicles,” said The Senior Connection’s executive director Jovita Pina.

Pina said the Senior Connection has been busier than ever this side of the COVID pandemic: “We’re averaging 70 diners a day for our weekday lunches, and we make 85 Meals on Wheels deliveries.”

Bob Cunningham said that The Senior Connection couldn’t do what it does without volunteers who serve as lunch hostesses, Meals on Wheels drivers, fitness class aides and more.

The Senior Connection is guided by a board of directors that includes Don Cunningham, owner of Engelmann Partners construction; Rick Allington, a lawyer who has lived in the valley for 30 years, and Diane Cordes, who has worked as office manager for the Sun Valley Ketchum Chamber and Conrad Brothers;

Also, Amber Royal-Perkes, energy advisor for Idaho Power; Mary Colhoun, who co-owned a family winery in the Sonoma Valley with her husband until they sold it to the parent company of Fiji Water; Rob Cronin, co-owner of Rixon-Cronin; Dr. Joseph Fastow;  Mardi Shepard, a fashion guru who also volunteers with St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and Wood River Women’s Foundation, and Trish Wilson, owner of Success Management human resources consulting company.

“Having had close relationships with both my grandparents and parents truly gave me a soft spot for those who are aging, especially those who are aging alone,” said Rob Cronin. “I’ve watched the Senior Connection evolve over the years and have a huge appreciation for all the programs.”