BY LOU WHEELAND

Special to The Press

Lehigh County’s Office of Aging and Adult Services celebrated May 17 with its 23rd annual tribute to Unsung Heroes at Fellowship Community, Whitehall Township.

More than a dozen older individuals and one group were recognized for their time and talents to support others in their communities.

The presentations were made by Clayton Reed Jr., executive director of the Office of Aging and Adult Services, county Executive Phillips Armstrong and Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Aging Jason Kavulich.

According to information provided by the Office of Aging and Adult Services, John and Dianne Deisinger, of South Whitehall Township, were two of 18 Lehigh County residents and a group of nine people honored as part of the Lehigh County Aging and Adult Service’s 23rd annual tribute to Unsung Heroes.

This tribute, in honor of Older Americans Month, celebrates older adults in the Lehigh Valley who have displayed exceptional generosity with their time and talents to enrich the lives of others in the community.

During this annual recognition ceremony, each honoree received a certificate from Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services, a certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, and citations from their local legislators.

They also received a book on the history of Lehigh County, an Unsung Hero pin, and Unsung Hero yard sign and flowers.

According to their tribute written by Dawn Stillwagon, from Meals on Wheels of Greater Lehigh Valley:

“At Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley, we draw support from an outstanding group of volunteers. Two of these volunteers, Dianne Kareha-Deisinger and John Deisinger, have devoted their lives to helping others.

“Their commitment to family, faith and service sets them apart and has resulted in extraordinary accomplishments that benefit our clients and the larger community.

“Dianne and John’s careers reflect their focus on service; both are retired pastors. Dianne was chaplain for Luther Crest Senior Living Community, retiring after 25 years.

“She currently serves as organist at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Allentown. John is financial secretary and on the congregation council of St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church.

“Looking for a volunteer activity they could do together, they began helping at Meals on Wheels in 2016.

“It was a perfect fit; John likes to drive and Dianne likes walking and staying active! Signing up for open routes, they average three delivery days each week, taking meals to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities throughout Lehigh County. The impact they have on these clients is twofold: delivering nutritious food while simultaneously providing a vital connection to the outside world.

“They maintained this connection throughout the pandemic. Faced with many volunteers who were either unable or unwilling to deliver during the height of COVID, our program relied on the dedication of volunteers like John and Dianne.

“Despite the unpredictability caused by the virus, these two headed out each week with face masks, hand sanitizer and a determination to make sure their clients received the meals they so greatly needed. Often the only people their clients saw, they helped counteract the isolation and fear so many were feeling and provided an important sense of continuity in a world that had turned upside down.

“John and Dianne’s assistance extends beyond deliveries. They have represented Meals on Wheels at a volunteer fair and have welcomed new volunteers, including nursing students and community leaders to join them on their routes.

“All their activities have added up; they’ve logged 3,000 hours and traveled almost 10,000 miles. These numbers translate into something even more meaningful for the people they serve: over 6,000 deliveries with more than 12,000 meals brought to grateful clients!

“Not limiting their community involvement to Meals on Wheels, they’ve joined the Luther Crest Water Walk for Malawi and participate annually in the Luther Crest and Greater Allentown CROP Hunger Walks, raising awareness and money to help eliminate hunger and poverty.

“Their interest in the larger world is reflected in their love of travel: they’ve been to all 50 states and all seven continents too!

“Now 84 and 71 respectively, John and Dianne continue to work on behalf of others, providing emotional, spiritual, and physical support to those they serve. “In their own words, ‘In our retirement years, we find great joy and purpose by volunteering and helping others with the time, talents and treasures that God has graciously given us.’

“We owe a debt of gratitude to them for their ongoing support and commitment.

‘With humility, kindness and compassion, this remarkable couple has improved the lives of countless people without fanfare or special attention.

“Their contributions have not gone unnoticed, however, and Meals on Wheels is proud to recognize them as Unsung Heroes.”