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COLUMBUS — The local Brookshire Brothers left many reasons for the seniors living at Oak Bluff apartments at 1513 Montezuma St. to be thankful after donating meals to every resident on Nov. 16.
The grocery store provided several traditional Thanksgiving dishes to the residents in the unassisted elderly living complex as a philanthropic contribution to the community.
“This community, when you do ask [for assistance], they step up,” Service Coordinator Angela Covarrubio said.
Due to the community room being under construction along with several other units in the complex, the residents were not able to gather for the yearly celebration for the holidays. Covarrubio recognized the need to provide something for the seniors and reached out to store manager Andrew Wanko to try to bring some sort of charitable sponsorship to the seniors.
After filling out the application that requested up to eight weeks for a response, Covarrubio was surprised to receive a response as soon as the next day from Brookshire Brothers confirming the sponsorship for Nov. 16.
Wanko, Covarrubio and Regional Director of Philanthropy and Public Relations Lianna McNeil along with workers from Oak Bluff and Brookshire Brothers walked around to each unit, delivering togo plates with Thanksgiving meals with sides and dessert.
Sponsorships from businesses like Brookshire Brothers are an important part of what Oak Bluff can provide to their residents for holidays such as Thanksgiving. As a complex under the National Church Residences organization, much of their funding comes from grants to help provide fixed income seniors with affordable living arrangements. Without sponsorships from businesses and residents, there would not be enough funding to provide the seniors with any extra assistance or charity.
“We are always looking for resources and volunteers and partners,” Mc-Neil said, “Financial or community partners that can come in and assist from small details to big details.”
Fortunately for Oak Bluff, they have a history of receiving charity from local churches, business and regular people in the area who have helped in the past to provide the seniors with events and charity. However, the sponsorships have waned slightly in the past year as high levels of inflation as well as lingering effects from the pandemic on membership for churches and charity organizations have slowed down the ability for these organizations to provide their philanthropic initiatives.
Covarrubio and Property Manager Joy Lopez are hoping that they can receive a sponsorship that will be able to provide a similar event for their seniors during the Christmas holiday. There is not a sponsor for that event just yet, but they are hoping that their community room will be completed in time to have its grand opening with an event for Christmas. They are optimistic as several of the other renovations have been progressing ahead of schedule on the site.
To inquire about sponsorships or charitable events, contact Covarrubio at 979-733-0399. For more information on the apartment complex, contact Lopez at 979-732-6983 or visit https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/communities/oakbluff-village/.
