Mothers Day – two nurturers from Elder Services Nutrition Department
By Rae A. Eastman
When Berkshire County seniors and their advocates call Elder Services about nutritional matters, pleasant, professional and helpful voices from the Nutrition Department dispense information, referrals, and other valuable services. Two of those voices belong to Rita Burns and Sandy Alfonso, who have spent a life time professionally and personally nurturing those around them, and look forward to celebrating Mother’s Day with their families.
Elder Services Meal Site Coordinator Rita Burns, a lively 73 year old, has worked for the Meals on Wheels program in various capacities for almost 15 years. “My daughter and her husband usually take me to brunch at Jack’s in Housatonic. I’m hoping they will invite me again this year; I do so look forward to it every year.”
While her daughter, age 50, and her son in California – whom she plans to visit soon – are her “real” offspring, Burns thinks of Barney, her 12- year-old Maltese cat, as her adopted child. “He’s my baby; 12 pounds of trouble!” Barney loves to travel, so “wherever I go, he goes.” She adopted Barney from the Berkshire Animal shelter, where she volunteers eight hours a week. “I have lots of four-legged grandchildren,” she laughs.
Burn’s colleague, Sandy Alfonso, has 23 years at Elder Services behind her. Hers is the voice you hear when you ask for the Nutrition Services Supervisor. The mother of three boys and – (“finally, a girl - I’m glad I didn’t give up!”), she is at 65, a grandmother of 11 and proud great grandmother of a three-year old. She describes her job as constantly changing, with many, many aspects to it: looking after the Meals on Wheels drivers, acting as the site director of meal sites throughout Berkshire County, as well as dealing with clients – the satisfied ones and those who might not be so satisfied. “When it comes to food it’s tough to please all the people all the time.”
She describes herself as “an eternal optimist.” “My challenge in life is to try to turn around some dissatisfaction. If I talk with an unhappy consumer and can change the situation for the better – it means a lot to me.” She cites her experience as a waitress and service desk operator at Ames as providing the background for being able to handle people.
“Long ago, I was a waitress in a place to which a bunch of guys would come, but never leave a tip. Everyone hated them. They became my challenge. So I talked and joked with them for a while and –whadya know – they started tipping!”
She can’t say enough about her colleagues (“they’re fantastic!) or the people she supervises ( “they’re such giving people”). What will this generous, motherly soul be doing on Mother’s Day? She smiles, “I’ll go to my daughter’s in Rensselaer.”
Rae A. Eastman is a volunteer with Berkshire Talking Chronicle. She is the retired Sheffield Council on Aging Director and resides in Lakeville.
Editor’s Note: Elder Services’ Nutrition/Meals on Wheels Program prepares and delivers more than 1,000 meals each weekday to homebound elders and guests at our 14 senior lunch sites located throughout the county. To learn more about Meals on Wheels or senior lunch sites, call 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5252 and ask for the Nutrition Department, or visit http://www.esbci.org.
