SEAL BEACH : Gifts Add Relish to Their Meals

Beulah McAuliffe has become so used to having two meals delivered to her door each weekday around noon that the 95-year-old Leisure World resident sets her watch to it.

But even McAuliffe was surprised Thursday when, along with her lasagna dinner and cold sandwich lunch, came a group of volunteers bearing gifts.

“Oh, this is awful nice,” said a surprised but smiling McAuliffe as she opened a brightly wrapped box and examined her new blue sweater. “This is beautiful. I feel kind of guilty about it.”

McAuliffe is among the first of about 400 homebound senior citizens from around Orange County who will receive special presents this month along with their normal meal deliveries. The presents were purchased by employees of PacifiCare in Cypress in honor of Older Americans Month.

For many recipients, the gift-giving gave them a chance to reflect on what the meals program means to them.

“We are so lucky to get the meals. I don’t know what I’d do without them,” said Leisure World resident Louise Gully, 85, as she received new potholders and towels. “Yes, I wait for (the meals), and so does my tummy.”

Gully’s comments were mirrored Thursday by other meal recipients, many of whom also rely on the volunteers for companionship.

“They are always so glad to see us. They have wonderful stories to tell. They’ve lived things that we’ve only read about,” said Dianna Frohn, one of 150 PacifiCare employees who deliver food to senior citizens in Cypress and Seal Beach. “You walk in and they always have a smile for you. They are expecting us. The table is set when we get there.”

The experience has given Frohn and other volunteers a chance to bond with the seniors. “It’s a good feeling to see them. They look forward to you more than to the meal itself,” said PacifiCare worker Bela Biro.

The meals are distributed to seniors in need by a variety of organizations throughout the county. The PacifiCare Foundation recently contributed $4,700 to pay for some of the meals.

Hundreds of PacifiCare workers also donated money for the gifts, which ranged from clothing and food to radios and clocks. The seniors will also be presented with artwork by children of PacifiCare employees.

Earlier this year, the seniors were asked what kind of gifts they would like.

“One man said he wanted a woman,” said Riva Gebel, volunteer coordinator for PacifiCare. “We said we couldn’t give him a woman, so he asked for jam.”