Posted on Jul 29, 2020

Our presenter on July 29th was Peggy Hayes, the Executive Director of The Helm Life Center.

Ms. Hayes was born and raised in Grosse Pointe before her family moved to Rochester and is glad to be back.  Prior to joining The Helm, she had two 20-year management and marketing careers, one working with malls and the other with hospitals. 

The Helm started out 2020 with great expectations for its 40 programs and 700 members and then Covid 19 hit.  Considered an essential service, it has since had to adjust its programs.  For example, Meals on Wheels used to be hot meals 5 days a week and is now 5 frozen meals delivered one day a week and its lunch service, which typically served 15-20 people a day, switched to carry out only and now serves 50-55 a day. It has never stopped offering its connection to 2,480 services, such has home health care. 

The Helm’s building closed on March 13th and only opened back up on a limited basis, on July 20th.  During this time, the organization continued its bus program taking individuals to doctor visits and has started a program to handle grocery shopping and pharmacy pick-up.  It has taught a “how to Zoom” class and will try to deliver programs online, if unable to at its location.  Trying to slowly bring the services back to normal, there are now light exercise programs being offered and it has held a “party on the patio” and an ice cream social.

Mark your calendars for The Helm’s gala auction (which raises 40% of its revenue) on October 8th.  It will be an online event so attendees can make their bids from their living rooms.  To learn more about the organization  and see all of the great programs offered, go to www.helmlife.org.