Aug 24, 2026

When Juli Ferrell's own mother could no longer drive herself to doctor's appointments, a low-cost transportation service called WellTran became a lifeline — now, just three weeks into her new role as Executive Director of Seniors First, Juli is bringing that same personal understanding to an organization that serves thousands of seniors across the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Janet sits down with Juli at the Seniors First offices in Front Royal to unpack everything the organization does — Meals on Wheels, WellTran transportation, senior centers, Medicare counseling, and scam prevention — across six jurisdictions. They talk food insecurity, an aging-population wave headed for Virginia by 2030, and how the upcoming Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt fundraiser could help shrink Meals on Wheels wait lists. Whether you or a loved one might need these services someday, or you're just looking for a new way to give back locally, this is a great primer on a nonprofit quietly doing a lot of heavy lifting.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Seniors First: seniorsfirst.info
• Seniors First on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (search "Seniors First")
• Valley Venture Scavenger Hunt — Saturday, October 17; $30/person, teams of two or more, all six jurisdictions; ends with a barbecue and basket auction in Warren County

THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations.

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