Some people find their place in the world gradually, over years of quiet searching. Cathy Rose found hers in the middle of a storm.
Four years ago, during January’s devastating rainstorms, the MOWMP kitchen faced a crisis. The power was out, the generator had failed, and getting food to clients that day seemed impossible. But staff and volunteers transformed the dining room into a makeshift kitchen, hand-wrapping salads, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and cooking oatmeal on the gas stove, all while music played and spirits stayed high. Every meal was prepared and delivered. Not one client was missed. The outpouring of gratitude from clients who never expected food to arrive that day was overwhelming.
For Cathy, watching that team rally with such heart and purpose made everything clear. She had found exactly where she was meant to be. Cathy joined MOWMP as a “Cart Person”, bringing loaded carts of meals to drivers as they arrive to load their vehicles. Through this role, she has come to know every driver by name and has gained a deep appreciation for what they do. Our drivers are far more than delivery people. They check on clients, notice when something seems wrong, alert the office when needed, and offer a moment of genuine human connection that can mean the world to someone spending the day alone. Cathy witnesses that mission up close every day, and it clearly fuels her dedication.
Her commitment has also led her to become an active member of Friends of Meals on Wheels, a group dedicated to supporting MOWMP through fundraising and community engagement. Their first event, a Bingo night at the Moose Lodge, was a tremendous success, and this energetic group has many more exciting projects planned throughout the year.
A Chicago-area native and world traveler, Cathy met her husband Quentin in Milwaukee, and together they explored Africa and the Soviet Union. A medical conference brought them to Monterey, where they discovered the coastal cottage they would one day retire to and where Cathy would go on to earn a Master of Arts in International Environmental Policy. She has always followed where life leads her, and luckily life led her to us.
When asked what gives her joy, Cathy says it simply: “I get joy from volunteering as a way of giving back for all the blessings I have had in my life.” And to anyone considering joining the MOWMP family, she offers a warm invitation: “You can’t find a better group of people doing a more important job. Come on down! You will love it.”
Thank you, Cathy, for being such a bright and steady light in our MOWMP family.
