A Life Changer, In Ways She Didn't Expect: Davie's Story

Some days, Davie doesn’t get to think about herself.

Between doctor visits and caring for her son, there’s rarely time left to stand at the stove. Justin lives with diabetes and disabilities, and looking after him isn’t something Davie does on the side. It’s her whole life.

Back in 2006, Davie cared for her grandmother, who was diagnosed with cancer at 90 and didn’t want to go into hospice. Her grandmother would only eat when her Meals on Wheels delivery came to the door. It was something she could count on and look forward to every day. Davie never forgot that.

After serving in the military, Davie moved to Florida, went back to school, and settled in Colorado in 2022. Not long after, Justin needed a home, and Davie opened her door without hesitation. Her daughter, who was volunteering at Josephine Commons at the time, had heard about Coal Creek Meals on Wheels and thought it might help. So they gave it a try.

“It has been a life changer in ways I didn’t expect.”

Today, Davie and Justin both get meals delivered to their home in Superior. For Justin, that means a hot meal made with his dietary needs in mind, ready whenever he needs it. For Davie, it means one less thing to plan and a meal for herself that might otherwise get skipped.

“There have been days where it meant me eating or not. It has literally kept me going. Having hospital or ER visits and I’m there for hours, and to come home and it’s in the fridge for me, that’s stability. It gives [Justin] independence, too.”

“The meals have truly been a blessing,” she says. “I was not eating properly before the meals and was anemic and malnourished, and now I am in better health. As a disabled veteran, there were days I did not feel well enough to prepare a meal. These meals have changed my quality of life.”

What stays with her most is how the food is made. “I can tell people are putting a lot of work and passion into what they’re doing, to go a step above.” And picking a favorite? “All of them are absolutely delicious, but the enchiladas, and the spinach salad, too hard to choose.”

Somewhere across Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Superior, and the Carbon Valley, there’s another Davie. A parent or caregiver holding everything together for someone they love, or a neighbor facing their own challenges alone, where a knock at the door might be the only conversation they have all day.

A meal in the fridge sounds small. For Davie, it was the difference between eating and going without.

As this year comes to a close, your gift can be that meal for someone else. It brings food to a neighbor’s door and the comfort of knowing someone is looking out for them.

Give before the year ends → Coal Creek Meals on Wheels | ColoradoGives.org