Little Brothers–Friends of the Elderly, Unidine and Tufts Health Plan Bring Holiday Cheer to 125 Elders
WATERTOWN, MA (December 20, 2016) – More than 125 elderly Boston-area residents who do not have the benefit of family connections for the holidays enjoyed a gourmet holiday feast, gifts and greetings today thanks to Little Brothers–Friends of the Elderly (LBFE), Boston Chapter. Volunteers from LBFE, Tufts Health Plan and Unidine, a Boston-based foodservice provider, served fresh roasted turkey, apple cranberry stuffed pork loin, maple butter mashed squash, sage bread stuffing, homemade pies and much more. The center atrium at Tufts Health Plan’s Watertown headquarters was transformed into a festive atmosphere where the honored guests were greeted by Massachusetts Secretary of Elder Affairs Alice Bonner and Boston Commissioner of Elderly Affairs Emily Shea.
LBFE-Boston helps elders maintain independence while feeling connected to a larger community, explained Executive Director Nikki Therrien. “Events like this have an incredible emotional impact on elders who have no one else to turn to during the holidays. To make such a big difference with a small staff, we rely on a large network of volunteers and supporters like Unidine and Tufts Health Plan,” she explained.
This year’s holiday LBFE celebration was spearheaded by Unidine CEO and Founder Richard Schenkel. A long-term supporter, Schenkel was able to leverage his company’s supplier partners and local team members to deliver the freshly prepared, traditional New England holiday meal. Tufts Health Plan, a Unidine client partner, graciously offered the use of its headquarters facility in Watertown, as well as volunteers.
“Giving back to our community is at the heart of this season and reflected in our company values,” said Kristine Martel, vice president for human resources at Tufts Health Plan. “We’re honored to join with Unidine and Little Brothers to welcome 125 older adults at our headquarters. We hope this evening is a special time for everyone to enjoy a delicious meal and socialize with others.”
Each of the guests went home with a gift card from LBFE, a homemade pie from Unidine and fond memories that come from delivering on LBFE’s promise to provide “the presence of people who care.
To learn more about Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, Boston Chapter, including volunteer opportunities, please visit www.littlebrothersboston.com.
About Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, Boston Chapter (LBFE – Boston)
LBFE — Boston was founded in 1979 as part of a national network of non-profit volunteer-based organizations committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly in Greater Boston. Our motto, flowers before bread, reflects our belief that living is more than a roof over our heads and food on the table, but also the presence of people who care. Staff and over 1,500 volunteers, provide companionship, support and care to over 800 elders seventy and over without the benefit of family or adequate social contacts. Priority is given to those living in our partner City Sites buildings, all services are offered without charge and without regard to race, gender, creed, nationality, or sexual orientation. LBFE – Boston is a 501(c)(3) operating solely with the support of individual donors, volunteers and foundation or corporate assistance. For more information, visit www.littlebrothersboston.org.
About Unidine Corporation
With operations in over 200 facilities nationwide, Unidine Corporation is a leading provider of food and dining management services for healthcare, corporate and senior living clients throughout the United States. Founded in 2001, Unidine’s success is derived from consistent execution in four key areas: exclusive focus on food and dining management services; a commitment to scratch cooking with fresh, seasonal, responsibly sourced ingredients; exceptional customer service and a corporate culture enlivened by each team member’s passion for culinary and service excellence. For more information, please visit unidine.com.
About Tufts Health Plan
Tufts Health Plan is nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage. Staying true to our mission of improving the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve, we touch the lives of more than one million members in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire through employer-sponsored plans; Medicare; Medicaid and Marketplace plans, offering health insurance coverage across the life span regardless of age or circumstance.
We continually rank among the top health plans in the country based on quality and member satisfaction:
- Our private HMO and PPO plans are rated 5 out of 5 and our Medicaid plan is rated 4.5 out of 5 by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.*
- Our Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO and Senior Care Options plans received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the highest rating possible.
To learn more about how we’re redefining what a health plan can do, visit tuftshealthplan.com/ourstories.
