Local golfers and philanthropists recently gathered at the Riomar Country Club for a poignant evening of giving during the 10th annual Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament and Dinner. The highly anticipated community event served a critical purpose: raising essential funds for the Senior Resource Association’s Meals on Wheels program. With local seniors facing increasing challenges, the generosity of Indian River County residents proved to be a vital lifeline.
The atmosphere at the anniversary event was notably emotional as speakers outlined the pressing realities facing the elderly population in the immediate area. Senior Resource Association Chief Executive Officer Karen Deigl addressed the attendees, highlighting the unbelievable reality that many local seniors wake up unsure of where their next meal will come from. She expressed deep gratitude to the community, the staff, local golf professionals, and the Riomar Country Club for continually hosting the event. Deigl specifically honored founding co-chairs Mike and Sassy Smith, along with Trudie Rainone, who have been instrumental since the tournament’s inception a decade ago.
A significant portion of the evening focused on recent local funding challenges. Mike Smith brought attention to a troubling decision made by the Hospital District to cut $250,000 in funding for the Meals on Wheels program, operating under the claim that food and social interactions do not constitute healthcare. This massive reduction forced the organization to decrease the number of seniors served daily from 672 down to just 512.
Today, over 250 local seniors are waiting for a phone call that meals will soon be delivered to their door each day. I have no idea when that call will be. We firmly believe that food is medicine, and that good nutritious food is critical to our seniors.
Smith emphasized that the emotional contact provided by Meals on Wheels volunteers is absolutely vital for the mental health of homebound residents. This sentiment was deeply echoed by Liz Brunner, the recently retired Vice President of Philanthropy. Brunner and her husband, Chris, who both serve as year-round volunteer drivers, shared moving personal experiences from their delivery routes, noting that the vast majority of the seniors they assist live entirely alone.
To illustrate the profound daily impact of the program, Brunner recounted several heartbreaking and touching interactions with Indian River County seniors:
- Robert, 92: A grieving widower who recently lost his wife of 49 years, requiring deep emotional comfort and contact alongside his daily meal.
- A 96-year-old former professional ballroom dancer: A woman so starved for companionship and conversation that Brunner makes her the final stop on the route to allow for a longer visit.
- Harry: A senior living in a sparse mobile home with bare plywood floors, who waits eagerly in his recliner with a kitchen towel on his lap, ready to eat the moment his food arrives.
Moved by these powerful testimonials, attendees responded with overwhelming support during the auction and paddle raise. In honor of the event’s impressive milestone, a special $10,000 paddle pledge was introduced and warmly received. Thanks to the dedication of the donors in the room, the Senior Resource Association can continue to ensure that vulnerable residents receive both the nutrition and the compassionate human connection they desperately need. For more information on how to support this vital community initiative, residents are encouraged to visit SeniorResourceAssociation.org.
