Mindful Care Adult Day Services recently was the beneficiary of $3,000 from SharingChange, Middle Tennessee Electric's charitable foundation whose sole purpose is to give back to the community it serves.

Since 2003, MTEMC's foundations have distributed more than $9 million to more than 580 local organizations. Funds are donated by the people served by the utility, and 100 percent is earmarked for entities such as Empower Me Daycamp in Lebanon and Project Healing Waters.

"We are so grateful to Jay Sanders and the board members of SharingChange for including Mindful Care in the foundation's generosity," commented Tom Tozer, Mindful Care's board president. "These dollars will go a long way in helping us continue to serve adults with compromised memory issues and also their caregivers." Sanders is MTEMC's Community Relations Coordinator.

Mindful Care, the 12-year-old nonprofit organization, operates out of New Vision Baptist Church on North Thompson in Murfreesboro. With the future surge in dementia, the need for adult day services will be essential. There are 5.5 million people across the country afflicted with some type of dementia—more than 3,000 right here in Rutherford County, Tozer stated.

"Caregivers need a break from 24/7 care at home. In 25 percent of the cases, due to stress and exhaustion, caregivers pass on before those for whom they cared. Mindful Care serves both the caregiver and the cared-for," he said.

Tozer added that MTEMC's grant will enable Mindful Care to acquire additional materials to provide both cognitive and physical activities. Mindful Care is open five days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Openings are available in the program for those age 55 and older. Visit mindful-care.org or call 615-542-4371.

Photo: Jay Sanders, left to right, Tom Tozer and Earl Cunningham