Meals on Wheels, Indianapolis

We Deliver Smiles

Safeco Insurance Company

One of 16 satellites of its Seattle mothership, Safeco Insurance Company in Indianapolis builds community here through action, creativity and a generous, caring spirit.

From programs that match hundreds of thousands of company dollars to employee volunteer time and contributions, to a national giving campaign totaling $46,500 in employee contributions to Indianapolis nonprofits last year, to the company's “Safeco Cares Committees” at every satellite office that provide volunteers to local events and organizations -- including Meals on Wheels -- the company's caring spirit is “reflected in how we help others and support our communities,” said Wendy Stauff, Community Relations manager.

Fourteen volunteers from across Safeco's many Indianapolis departments fill seven MOW routes every month. They've been delivering Meals on Wheels for more than 10 years, and would have lost that privilege were it not for a small uprising that took place when these offices, formerly American States Insurance of Indianapolis, changed hands in 1997 and became part of Safeco.

To its credit, the company listened to its employees' desires to continue delivering Meals on Wheels , and to this day Safeco remains one of MOW's strongest volunteer organizations. “Safeco is very proactive in supporting volunteer activities,” said Carol Wensloff, who manages the company's MOW volunteers.

Wensloff added, “While insurance is a beneficial part of society, it's nice to be able to do something that directly benefits others.”

Tammy Bow, who delivers a route with coworker Joe Reel, fondly remembers one client who gave them boxes of chocolates at Christmas. She and Reel use their delivery days as opportunities for exercise, parking at one end of their delivery area -- an apartment complex -- and walking the length of the complex.

As underwriters, Wensloff and Bow are accustomed to making judgment calls about safety, a handy skill for a MOW volunteer. “Some of the situations are so sad,” Wensloff said. “We see people who are disabled -- on oxygen and in wheelchairs -- it really makes us appreciate what we have, and what we're able to give back.”

The Indianapolis Safeco Cares Committee also organizes holiday food drives and other charitable events. Last year the Indianapolis departments had a “slightly competitive” contest to create gift baskets for charity. “None of the departments wanted to be outdone by another, so we came up with some pretty incredible baskets,” Wensloff said.

Bow recalls getting a parking ticket while out delivering, which she took to traffic court. “The judge told me there was no rule exempting this type of parking violation,” said Bow. “But when I went to pay, he had charged me only $1.00.”

Wensloff said, “The people are so friendly, so happy to see you. It's a heavy responsibility to know we're sometimes the only people they see that day.”

Thanks to Safeco and their intrepid Indianapolis employees, the city's homebound see a few more people every day.

Meals on Wheels appreciates the volunteer efforts of these

Safeco Insurance Company employees:

For further details, please contact us at 317.633.6325, or by e-mail at info@mealsonwheelsindy.org.

Archives
Diamond Chain Company
Charles Poindexter
National Wine & Spirits
Liz Browning
Roche Diagnostics
Servants of Christ Lutheran Church
Safeco Insurance Company
Howard & Mary McKinley
Robert Palmer
Marilyn Carroll
Regions Bank
Ray Hale
Don & Shirley Wendling
Jane & Joan King