[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 59 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JULIE NADEAU

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize the extraordinary work of Julie Nadeau of Waterford, VT. 
Julie, a mother of five, has been a volunteer for the St. Johnsbury 
Meals on Wheels program for the past 4 years, delivering meals to area 
seniors 3 days a week.
  Julie brings freshly cooked nutritious meals to 42 seniors in their 
homes, many of whom otherwise might not have enough to eat. She plays a 
critically important role helping ensure that older Vermonters in the 
most rural and lowest income region of our State have access to 
adequate nutrition. That, in and of itself, is no small matter.
  Julie understands that she is doing much more than just delivering a 
meal. She is also providing invaluable social interaction and 
companionship for the seniors she visits. She takes pride in finding 
time to have meaningful conversations with each senior, which goes a 
long way to combat the effects of isolation that many older Vermonters 
face, especially in rural areas.
  The regular visits serve another purpose as well. Julie routinely 
checks to make sure that the seniors are safe, secure, and warm. She 
knows each person she visits and recognizes immediately if something 
doesn't seem right. It is no exaggeration to say that Julie has saved 
Vermonters' lives by checking when no one answers the door, taking the 
time to discover that someone had fallen and been injured.
  Julie Nadeau has my sincere appreciation for her remarkable work. Of 
course, Julie is but one of many regular volunteers who give their time 
to ensure that seniors receive nutritious meals and conversation. Each 
and every one of those volunteers deserves to be recognized for their 
efforts.
  Moreover, the St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels program is run by caring 
and dedicated professionals. Chefs Ashley Coburn and Amy Garfield 
prepare the nutritious meals that Julie delivers, and program director 
Diane Coburn ensures that everything runs smoothly, as the organization 
provides close to 36,000 meals this year, for a mere $6.64 per meal.
  The St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels program is but one of many such 
programs that are doing incredible work all across the State. Together, 
those programs served more than 1 million meals in Vermont last year 
alone. This is an indispensable component of our social safety net for 
older Vermonters.
  Last month was ``March for Meals,'' when Meals on Wheels programs 
across the country expand their outreach to draw attention to the 
growing need for the services these agencies provide. I am enormously 
pleased that many of my Vermont staff rode along with Meals on Wheels 
volunteers across the State, including with Julie Nadeau, to see the 
wonderful work they are doing.

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