Nominated by Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, Maui County Office on Aging
For more than 33 years, Cary Valdez has dedicated her career to helping Maui County's older adults, or kūpuna, remain healthy, safe and independent. As an Aging and Disability Services Specialist IV with the Maui County Office on Aging, she is known for her compassion, dedication and unwavering commitment to serving others.
"Cary has built a legacy of service that continues to positively impact hundreds of individuals and families each year," said her nominator, Rowena Dagdag-Andaya. "Her unwavering commitment, responsiveness in times of crisis and ability to connect people with life-changing resources truly set her apart."
Each year, Cary manages a caseload of more than 180 participants, helping older adults access essential services, including nutrition programs, housing support, transportation and medical care. Whether coordinating home-delivered meals through Kaunoa Senior Services or arranging meals through Mom's Meals, Cary is committed to ensuring no client goes without the support they need. She also helps families navigate difficult care decisions and works closely with community partners to ensure vulnerable older adults receive the resources they need to continue living safely at home.
Her dedication was especially evident during the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. After receiving an urgent call that an elderly couple had not evacuated, Cary worked alongside her colleagues and public health nurses to coordinate their rescue. She helped arrange transportation, assisted the couple in obtaining identification documents and secured additional support, ensuring the wife, who was living with dementia, and her husband received the care and protection they needed during one of Maui's most devastating disasters.
Thank you for all you do, Cary, and congratulations as this year's winner of the Mom's Meals and USAging Community Champion Award.
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