Why We Give Monthly and Included MOWP in Our Legacy

Vickie Skakel and Bob Vistica are retired IT professionals, avid volunteers, and monthly donors to Meals on Wheels People. They’re also members of a growing group of supporters who’ve included Meals on Wheels People in their estate plans — because, as Vickie puts it, “If there’s something left, let’s give it to people who need it.”

For Vickie and Bob, supporting Meals on Wheels People just made sense.

“I’ve known about Meals on Wheels People for years,” Vickie says. “When I retired, I started thinking about where I wanted to give my time — and this was one of the organizations I wanted to support more.”

Bob was introduced to the mission through his mother, who volunteered at a church food pantry for over 20 years. “It was something I saw her doing all the time,” he says. “I learned that doing something like that really helps people who want to stay in their homes, and I think that’s pretty valuable.”

Now living in Gresham, the couple volunteers together at Meals on Wheels People’s Ambleside Center. But they also support in another way: as monthly donors and proud members of MOWP’s Sustainers Circle.

“For me, monthly giving is just easy,” Vickie says. “It goes out automatically, and I always get a thank-you note. I don’t give a lot, but I give what I can — and I know it helps Meals on Wheels People plan ahead and count on that support.”

Bob agrees: “I used to give yearly, but monthly giving really does help the organization do better planning. It makes a lot more sense.”

More Than a Meal

What stands out most to them about Meals on Wheels People is how much more the program offers beyond nutrition.

“It’s not just food — it’s a check-in at the same time,” Vickie says. “It’s someone saying hello. That social connection matters. It keeps people healthy and connected to their communities.”

They’ve seen the difference firsthand through neighbors and friends. “All seniors are different,” Bob says. “Some choose to move into care. Others want to stay where they are for as long as they can. Helping them do that — that’s important.”

A Gift That Last

Their thoughtful approach to their giving also led Vickie and Bob to include Meals on Wheels People in their estate plans.

“When we were working on our wills, we talked about which organizations we wanted to support long-term,” Vickie says. “It just made sense to include Meals on Wheels People. We set aside a percentage. It’s such a simple way to make sure that even after we’re gone, we’re helping someone else.”

For Bob, the decision came from reflecting on the kind of impact he wants to leave behind. “I chose a handful of nonprofits that really meant something to me,” he says. “Meals on Wheels People was on that list. Giving money to help older adults stay in their homes, if that’s what they choose — that feels like a good thing to do.”

For some, the idea of estate planning can feel overwhelming. But for Bob, it was something else entirely.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision,” he says. “I think it’s a relief to spend some time, figure that out, and come up with organizations.”

Leaving a Legacy of Care

“To me, legacy means: If there’s something left, let’s give it to people who need it,” Vickie says. “That’s how I was raised. If you have the ability and the means, you give.”

Bob agrees: “It’s not about plaques or recognition. It’s about doing what you can with what you have — and passing that forward.”