For nearly a century, The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas has had the privilege of walking alongside North Texans through some of life’s most challenging and meaningful moments. Every day, our staff, volunteers, and supporters show up with compassion, expertise, and a commitment to caring for others—not for recognition, but because serving our community is at the heart of who we are.

That is why we are especially humbled to share that VNA has been named a finalist in two categories for D CEO’s 2026 Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, presented in partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas.

Our VNA Hospice Team has been recognized as a finalist for Nonprofit Team of the Year, a reflection of the extraordinary care they provide to patients and families during life’s final chapter. In addition, Katherine’s House has been named a finalist for Most Successful Fundraising or Awareness Campaign, honoring the efforts that help ensure families facing the unimaginable loss of a child have a place of comfort, support, and understanding.

While we are deeply grateful for this recognition, we know these nominations tell a much larger story. They represent every donor who has given generously, every volunteer who has shared their time and talents, every community partner who has stood beside us, and every staff member who brings our mission to life each day. They reflect the trust that patients and families place in us and the collective belief that compassionate care matters.

Thank you for being part of our story. This recognition belongs to all of you.

Read more on our blog

Shannon says her first day delivering meals was wonderful! She calls volunteering an “answered prayer” and is grateful for the opportunity to serve others in her community.

Thank you, Shannon, for making a difference in the lives of our neighbors!

Whether it’s a regular weekday delivery, delivering supplementary pet food one Saturday each month, or getting a group together for a special project—VNA can keep you (and the kids) busy this summer!

Your support during the summer months is more important than ever.

Visit volunteer.vnatexas.org to get scheduled today!

P.S. We still have space in our VNA Meals on Wheels Kids Camp! Now August 3, 4, and 5th! Visit VNATexas.org/kids-camp now to sign up your 8-11-year-old kiddos!

In honor of National Pet Appreciation Week, VNA is proud to announce the Paws for a Cause Pet Program Sponsorship opportunity.

This special initiative supports the well-being of pets and our senior clients who love them by providing essential food and supplies to animals in need.

We are seeking caring businesses and organizations to sponsor a full month of pet food and make a lasting impact on our furry friends.

Join us in one of two ways:

1. Sponsor a Month
For $1,500, you will help feed approximately 470 cats and dogs.

2. Host a Pet Food Drive
Our pet program requires an astonishing 3,960 pounds of dog food and 456 pounds of cat food each month. You can help by collecting pet food.

Your sponsorship helps ensure that no pet goes hungry and that vulnerable pets receive the care they deserve. Join us in making a meaningful impact—one paw at a time.

Ready to learn more? Please contact Ryan Jackson at ryan.jackson@vnatexas.org or (214) 689-2653.

Many of us take something as simple as air conditioning for granted. Yet as temperatures soar during the summer months, older adults are among the most at risk without access to adequate cooling.

A small gift—like a fan—can make a life-changing difference. It can bring relief, comfort, and safety during the hottest days of the year.

With your support, you can help keep a senior safe, comfortable, and healthy when they need it most.

Purchase a fan from our Amazon Wish List
A fan purchased through our Wish List will be shipped directly to the VNA Haggerty Kitchen and delivered to a senior in need.

Make an online donation
Your gift will help us purchase fans and provide relief to vulnerable older adults facing extreme summer heat.

Join us for Fan Fridays!
Drop off a new fan any Friday in June between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Drop-off Location:
VNA Haggerty Kitchen
1440 W. Mockingbird Lane
Dallas, TX 75247

A simple fan can make a life-changing difference for a senior during the Texas summer. Thank you for helping our neighbors stay cool and safe.

Chris Culak
President & CEO
Visiting Nurse Association of Texas

© VNATexas.org
1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 214-689-0000 for more information. 

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Join McKenzie and hundreds of other volunteers this summer! Deliver healthy lunches and lots of joy to our 5,000 Meals on Wheels clients throughout Dallas County. Get started!

volunteer.vnatexas.org

As we commemorate National Military Appreciation Month, we reflect with deep respect on the selfless service of our nation’s military personnel—past and present—whose courage, dedication, and sacrifice have preserved the freedoms we hold dear. VNA Meals on Wheels is proud to serve nearly 400 veterans and veteran spouses. This month is not only a time to express gratitude, but also a moment to embody the values our service members represent. One meaningful way to honor their legacy is by giving back to our communities.

Volunteering with VNA Meals on Wheels provides a tangible opportunity to serve—delivering nourishment and human connection to homebound seniors and those in need. Just as our military members protect and care for others, we too can serve by ensuring that no neighbor is forgotten or left behind.

This National Military Appreciation Month, let us pay tribute not only with words, but with action—by continuing the spirit of service through compassionate community engagement.

Join us for VNA Kids Camp on August 3, 4, and 5th!

This isn’t your average camp—kids will learn how small actions can make a BIG difference in our community while having a blast doing it.

What campers will explore:

• What senior hunger really looks like (and how we can help)
• Why good nutrition matters
• How to help seniors feel less lonely and more connected
• How awesome it feels to give back and volunteer

Fun camp experiences include:

• A behind-the-scenes tour of the Meals on Wheels kitchen
• Helping deliver a real Meals on Wheels route
• Hands-on activities, games, and teamwork that build empathy and kindness

It’s fun, eye-opening, and all about making a difference—one meal (and one smile) at a time!

Register now

Le Creuset’s Factory-to-Table Destination Shopping Event is in Dallas, TX, June 4–7! Shop four days of exclusive savings on premium cookware in limited-edition colors, shapes, and sizes at Dallas Market Hall.

General admission shopping sessions are available June 6–7 for $15 and are selling fast!

Visit lecreuset.com to get tickets now! A portion of ticket proceeds benefits Meals on Wheels to support seniors facing isolation and hunger.

During the month of May, we had the pleasure of welcoming volunteers from the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) for their first Day of Caring with us! On their meal delivery day of caring, these volunteers helped deliver hope and connection to our Dallas County seniors.

By partnering with us, the volunteers representing RAICES were able to make a positive impact on the Dallas County community by delivering 16 meals to our clients, equal to a cost savings of $28. Thank you again to the RAICES team for your support, and we look forward to hosting your team again in the future!

If you and your group are interested in partnering with VNA Meals on Wheels, please contact our Community Health & Engagement Coordinator Yakia McKinnie at yakia.mckinnie@vnatexas.org or 214-689-2464.

If you see something, please say something. If you are out delivering and come across a client that you think could use additional help, please report it to us in the mobile app and we’ll be happy to follow up with the client.

On the Client Details Screen within the Mobile App, click on “Leave Feedback About Client.” Then, simply check the appropriate boxes.

You can help our senior clients keep their pets fed! Opportunities to help:

• Pet Food Pack Out – Every 3rd Thursday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Pet Food Delivery – Every 3rd Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Events can be found in your volunteer portal under the calendar tab. Email volunteer@vnatexas.org for more information.

Currently, we are out of stock on the following high-need items for our pet clients for our May pet food delivery. We currently have 152 cats and 296 dogs in our pet program. Please consider donating one of these items today:

• Dry cat food
• Wet dog & cat food

Visit our Amazon Wish List. These items will be sent directly to our VNA Haggerty Kitchen and delivered to our seniors.

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2026 theme, Champion Your Health, underscores prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages taking an active role in managing and advocating for your health, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions. This year, we are focused on evidence-based approaches, self-management, caregiver roles, and community partnerships that empower individuals to lead.

You can learn more about aging well by listening to our Aging Well with VNA podcast series. Tune in at vnatexas.org/podcasts

We are always happy to hear from you and are here to help make your volunteer experience better! Thank you so much for choosing VNA Meals on Wheels!

Karri Hopper, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

hopperk@vnatexas.org (214) 689-2209

Yakia McKinnie, Community Health & Engagement Coordinator

yakia.mckinnie@vnatexas.org (214) 689-2464

Ryan Jackson, Corporate & Community Engagement Liaison

ryan.jackson@vnatexas.org (214) 689-2653

© VNATexas.org

1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 214-689-0000 for more information. 

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In this episode of Aging Well with VNA, host Kersten Rettig sits down with Leisha Phipps, Executive Director of the Dallas Area Parkinson Society (DAPS), for an insightful and empowering conversation about Parkinson’s disease (PD)—the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world. Together, Kersten and Leisha explore what Parkinson’s is, how it affects individuals and families, and—most importantly—how people can live well with the disease. With an estimated 15,000 individuals in North Texas living with Parkinson’s, this conversation highlights the critical importance of community outreach, education, and engagement in supporting those impacted by PD.

Leisha shares how DAPS connects patients, caregivers, and professionals to vital resources, support services, and reliable information tailored to the unique needs of individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Whether you are living with Parkinson’s, caring for someone who is, or working in a related professional field, this episode offers practical insights, encouragement, and hope—along with clear pathways to support right here in North Texas.

Click here to listen and check out more at www.vnatexas.org/podcasts

Summer doesn’t have to mean hours of screen time. For families looking for something more meaningful (without forcing it), we offer a terrific alternative!

Our third annual Meals on Wheels Kids Camp, happening June 8-12, invites children ages 8-11 to spend their days learning, connecting, and giving back. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes hands-on activities focused on empathy, inclusion, and nutrition—along with delivering meals to local seniors in Dallas.

The idea is simple: show kids they can make a difference, even now. Along the way, they also get out of the house, meet new people, and see their community in a new way.

New this year are flexible 2-, 3-, and 5-day options, making it easier for families to fit into their summer plans.

Registration is open through June 5, with prices ranging from $50 per day to $200 for the full week.

It’s a small shift from the usual summer routine—but one that can stick with kids long after camp ends.

Register now

May is Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of older adults in our communities. When Older Americans Month was first established in 1963, just 17 million Americans had reached age 65—and many lived in poverty with limited access to supportive services.

Today, Older Americans Month continues as a nationwide opportunity to recognize the generations who shaped our country and to recommit ourselves to ensuring seniors can age with dignity, comfort, and connection.

At VNA, we see this commitment come to life every day through Meals on Wheels, which delivers food and friendship to homebound seniors, and through Hospice and Supportive Palliative Care, which provides compassionate support during serious illness.

You can honor older adults in our community this month—and all year long—by:

• Volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels, bringing nourishment and a friendly check-in.
• Volunteering with VNA Hospice, offering companionship and support to patients and families.
• Donating to VNA, helping ensure seniors receive the care and services they need.
• Advocating for senior services funding, so vital programs remain available for future generations.

Together, we can make Older Americans Month more than a celebration—we can make it a promise to stand with our senior neighbors, today and always.

We’re incredibly grateful to the restaurants that partnered with us during our March for Meals giveback events, and everyone that dined to make a difference! Your generosity and willingness to give back helped us raise vital funds and expand our impact in the community. Beyond the financial support, these events created opportunities to bring people together, raise awareness, and strengthen the connections that make our work possible.

With special thanks to: Empire Bakery, Shake Shack, Raising Cane’s, Jason’s Deli, BirdCall, Parry’s Pizzeria and Taphouse, Uncle Willie’s Pies, Panera Bread, Luna Grill, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Slim Chickens, and Smashburger.

Expanding Compassionate Hospice Care

I’m pleased to share an important update as VNA continues to expand compassionate hospice care for our community. Through our partnership with Forefront Living, VNA will soon assume operations of one floor at the T. Boone Pickens Campus to provide Inpatient Hospice Services.

This new Inpatient Unit (IPU) will serve hospice patients whose symptoms cannot be managed in the home, offering General Inpatient Care for short-term stabilization of complex symptoms such as pain or shortness of breath. The unit will also provide hospice patients with Inpatient Respite Care, giving family caregivers up to five days of relief while their loved one receives expert care in a supportive setting. These two types of care will be available for VNA’s adult and pediatric patients.

Behind the scenes, planning is well underway. Regulatory, licensure, and certification processes are progressing on schedule. With strong momentum, we are now focused on final surveys and readiness activities as we work toward an early summer opening.

Thanks to your generosity and service, VNA is able to expand care when it is needed most—supporting patients with complex needs and caregivers who need rest and reassurance. This Inpatient Unit is a meaningful extension of the compassion you help make possible every day.

Chris Culak
President & CEO
Visiting Nurse Association of Texas

© VNATexas.org
1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 214-689-0000 for more information. 

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