Mid-Cities
THE CONNECTION
Published By Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC)
MID-CITIES CARE CORPS SPRINGS INTO
ACTION WITH THE M.A.R.I. FOUNDER’S WORK DAY
Spring came early to Mid-Cities
Care Corps (MCCC) and brought an
uplifting burst of energy and excite-
ment. This year marked the kick-off
of what MCCC plans to make an
annual event in our community. The
M.A.R.I. (Making A Real Impact)
Founder’s Work Day is in remem-
brance of Mari Donaldson, a founder
of MCCC.
The Founder’s Work Day idea
sprang from Mari’s own family. The
family schedules a work day in early
March as a way to honor their moth-
er/grandmother/great grandmother’s
birthday and her spirit that became
the mission of MCCC in 1981 “to
preserve the independence of Senior
Neighbors in Northeast Tarrant
County.” Last year 14 members of
Mari’s family participated in the work
day at a MCCC senior neighbor’s
home. Their energy and spirit were
contagious, as is evident in the photo
at the right!!
In honor of Mari and motivated to
extend this spirited outreach, MCCC
has organized our first annual Found-
er’s Work Day in March 2009. This
initiative is generating interest within
our community. The Founder’s Work
Day program is focused on outdoor
spring maintenance jobs such as rak-
ing leaves, trimming shrubs, general
yard clean-up, window washing, exte-
rior painting, and minor home re-
pairs. A mailing to 200+ senior neigh-
bors in our service footprint resulted
in over 60 responses for assistance.
MCCC also teamed with the City of
Hurst Employee Work Day program
to support homes on their list.
The community support of this
Care Corps
www.midcitiescarecorps.org SPRING 2009
outreach to our senior neighbors groups to join this program via sup-
has been exciting!! The following port this year and/or anticipation to
groups have signed on to participate join this outreach program in 2010.
in 2009: Please call our office at 817-282-
 Mari’s Family 0531 if you have an interest or wish
 Tree Tops School to explore.
 Pathway Church The flowers planted provide a
 Compass Christian touch of Spring that will extend well
Church Youth Group into the summer for our clients.
 Good Shepherd Hugs were the reward shared be-
Catholic Community tween the youth, our senior neigh-
Youth Group bors, and MCCC volunteers and
 MCCC Volunteers revealed the appreciation that
 Birdville Retired Teachers bridged the generations during this
outreach. MCCC is confident the
These groups and individuals Founder’s Work Day experiences
have come together from Hurst, provided positive impressions that
Euless, Bedford, North Richland will grow in the minds and hearts of
Hills, Grapevine, Colleyville, South- the participants, both the “young”
lake, and Keller to help MCCC and the “young at heart”.
senior neighbors. (See insert and MCCC proudly uses the M.A.R.I.
visit www.midcitiescarecorps.org) acronym for this program to honor
Each group was provided with a our founder. Imagine the smile Mari
flat of flowers to plant at their work would have, knowing that the seed
site, thanks to Delta Theta Chi she planted over 25 years ago is still
Sorority for expediting the delivery growing heartily, blooming, and
of flowers through their annual fund Making A Real Impact in 2009!
raising event. Special
thanks to Mr. C’s
Ace Hardware of
Hurst for supporting
the project by
providing essential
supplies required for
the scope of this pro-
ject.
Yards have been
raked, bushes
trimmed and homes
painted. Projects re-
main; and MCCC
welcomes churches,
civic, and volunteer
The Donaldson Family Work Day (2008)
 Page 2 THE CONNECTION

The Spirit of the season filled The Wellington

during the Sugar Plum Christmas
The Wellington in  The Knitty Gritty Grannies of The Welling-
North Richland Hills was full ton for the knitted socks and blankets
of the Christmas spirit on  Youth groups from St. Philip Presbyterian
December 13th with the arri- and Calvary Lutheran for wrapping over 160
val Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, gifts to bridge generations with their TLC
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf  Special thanks to the Birdville Area Retired
and Elves for the Sugar Plum School Personnel (BARSP)
Christmas celebration. Eight-  To Mid-Cities Care Corps volunteers who
een (18) fully decorated distributed gifts
Christmas trees were donat-  Special thanks to Sergeant Rowell & the
ed by area businesses and Haltom City Police officers on duty Christ-
provided holiday spirit mas Day, the special Santa's who delivered gifts
throughout the main lobby Tis the Season to be Jolly! on that day!
for the celebration which
ran from November 27 though December 13. Thanks to The Wellington which donates receipts
Visiting guests and residents were encouraged to to MCCC from the silent auction held for the decorat-
vote for their favorite tree with a gift for the “young at ed trees. Each year the Sugar Plum celebration launches
heart” throughout the celebration. Mid-Cities Care the Christmas spirit at MCCC and provides a great op-
Corps participated in the celebration by distributing the portunity to extend the holiday spirit to our senior
gifts collected to “young at heart” senior neighbors in neighbors in the community through caring volunteer
Northeast Tarrant County that otherwise would not elves, teaming together for this outreach. Mark your
experience the holiday spirit. Special thanks to the fol- calendars to join and support this holiday happening in
lowing for partnering on this event to make it a success: 2009.

The North Pole Gang knows how to Party! Youth Wrap It Up with TLC The Spirit of the Season

STAY TUNED: Digital TV CONVERSION

DELAYED UNTIL JUNE
Thanks to Cecil, Dan and Peter, MCCC senior neighbors
are prepared for the analog to digital TV conversion. These
MCCC Proactive Helping Hands volunteer team leaders have Know Someone
been responding to client requests for assistance with convert- Who Needs
er box installations needed to receive the new digital signal.
The original February conversion date has been extended to A Lift?
June 12, 2009. MCCC will stay tuned and continue to offer MCCC has a donated
assistance. motorized scooter.
Technical challenges have been conquered through their Call 817-282-0531
persistence and the valued insight of Charlie at Hurst TV & Appliance. MCCC
appreciates the support from local businesses like Hurst TV & Appliance to for details if inter-
keep our Senior Neighbors tuned in for the future. ested.
 Mid-Cities Care Corps Page 3

DIRECTOR’S MUSINGS: HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

Spring has a way of rejuvenating HOPE. Buds from trees create a haze with anticipation of a full canopy.
Landscapes takes on new life with expectations of newly planted flowers and the recurrence of perennial
bluebonnets.
Nature has a subtle way of reminding us annually that “hope springs eternal”. Participating with the vol-
unteer youth groups in March during the Mid-Cities Care Corps (MCCC) M.A.R.I. Founder’s Work Day
projects (cover page story) reinforced this basic human nature for me this season. The inaugural Founder’s
Day projects bridged the generations and revealed the universal truth that hope springs eternal for the
“young” and “young at heart”! All the national/global chatter about trying times was put into perspective by
the hugs and smiles shared between the young volunteers and MCCC senior neighbors.
April is National Volunteer Month. We encourage our volunteers to meet other MCCC volunteers at
the Volunteer Luncheon on April 30 as the Board of Directors and Staff express appreciation for the service
and caring spirit extended to our Senior Neighbors.
Booker T. Washington captured the spirit of volunteerism with the statement:
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” Please be an ambassador for
volunteerism during April by sharing your experiences and rewards with a friend.
Encourage folks to volunteer with MCCC or any organization that addresses needs
in our community. HOPE is eternal and mighty invigorating. It is a real high and keeps
one’s seeming challenges in perspective!
Blessings,
Duane E. Buuck
BLESSINGS RECEIVED FROM MCCC NEIGHBORS
Dear Care Corps, Dear Friends, Dear Duane, Dear Care Corps,
Thank you so much Just a little note I have always ad- Jan and her
for making my holi- with a big hug to mired the care given children have been
days so much better by thank you sincerely by your organization, “so good” for me.
providing me with food for taking me for all now that I am a recip- They are so pre-
and supplies. Every- my Dr. appointments ient I am absolutely cious and helpful
thing was very much this month and for wild about the Care when we go to get
appreciated. CH getting me my food Corps volunteers. The groceries! SC
from CEC. DS light your staff pre-
Thank you for help- sents will always be I want to express
ing me last week. The Hello, Just want to like a bright shining my appreciation to
work looks so profes- friends and family of
say thank you for all star to those who need Ola Hemphill who
sional, so nice. You you do. I just got out your help. LB generously sent me-
came to my aid of the hospital with a morial donations in
promptly, were pleas- new pace maker and Thank you for your her name. We will
ant and efficient and was glad to see the miss Ola’s cheery
kindness. What would I
even cleaned up after! voice at MCCC.
holiday basket! do with out Care Corps.
NS RHB BW Anne
 817-282-0531
Hurst, TX 76053
Permit No. 9
U. S. Postage Paid 745 W. Pipeline Road
Non– Profit Organization Mid-Cites Care Corps

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Presenting the Annual
M.A.R.I Awards
(Making A Real Impact)
And Honoring our Committed Volunteers
Thursday, April 30
11:30 AM
St. Philip Presbyterian Church
745 W. Pipeline Road
Hurst, TX 76053
RSVP 817-282-0531