ONATARIO, Ohio — Panera Bread will host a Dine In To Donate Night on Oct. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m., at its 2070 Walker Lake Rd. location. The event will benefit the local Walt Bishop Respite Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Panera Bread will donate 15 percent of purchases during those hours to the Bishop Fund. Walt Bishop lived in Mansfield and suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. He died on Oct. 6, 1998.
Health experts estimate 5.3 million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Of that number, an estimated 5.1 million are people age 65 and older. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
Bishop’s wife, Ann and seven children, David, Cindy, Patty, Betty, Judy, Jim and Kathy, are dedicated to the project. Funds will help pay for respite caregivers, periodically relieving the family caregiver.
“We raise $3,000 to $5,000 each year to help caregivers. In 2014, we raised approximately $5,000, assisted 13 families with 590 hours of respite care,” Ann Bishop said. “Caregivers need respite or break time. It helps the giver and the recipient.”
The fund provides money for Alzheimer’s caregivers in seven counties; Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Richland, Knox, Seneca and Wyandot.
“One of the first patients we helped was an elderly lady who hadn’t spoken for some time. Within the third week of having a volunteer for respite care, she was smiling,” Bishop said. “It’s important to start early in the disease. The same volunteer will be there all the time.
“Very few have a hereditary familial association to Alzheimer’s disease. But Walt was the youngest of five in the family to suffer from Alzheimer’s.”
The Panera Bread flyer must be presented on Oct. 6. Flyers have been distributed around Richland County and members of the Bishop family will be handing them out at Panera Bread that evening.
“Alzheimer’s is a disease that not only affects the individual, but all those around that person,” said Liz Fiorino, Regional Marketing Director for Covelli Enterprises. “We, at Panera Bread, are proud to be able to support the Walt Bishop Respite Fund and the work they do to aid the local caregivers of those living with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.”
For additional information, please contact Ann Bishop at 419-526-0877. For more about Alzheimer’s visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.
“We raise $3,000 to $5,000 each year to help caregivers. In 2014, we raised approximately $5,000, assisted 13 families with 590 hours of respite care,” Ann Bishop said.
