Monday, May 13, 2024
As the Meals on Wheels program continues to grow, so does the need for volunteers.
Meals on Wheels is a federally funded program that provides seniors in the community with support that allows them to remain living in their own homes. This typically involves delivering a nutritious meal, a friendly visit, or a quick safety check. The Senior Center encompasses a full nutrition program and does accept donations.
Senior Center Director Pam Rudolph said, “Volunteering for Meals on Wheels is very important because the purpose is to deliver meals to seniors who are shut in, cannot drive or leave their home, as well as giving our clients a sense of purpose.”
According to mealsonwheelsamerica.org, the program has had positive impacts on social isolation and loneliness for all clients.
“It is good for the client’s mental health, because most of the time the Meals on Wheels volunteers are the only people they see for that day,” Camilla Edge, Nutrition Supervisor said.
When there are not enough volunteers available, Rudolph or Edge will take a route.
“There’s certain people that every time I see them, they are so happy, and it makes you feel so good,” Edge said.
The volunteers are expected to deliver a meal while generally checking in with the clients to make sure they are doing well through a friendly greeting or small talk.
“Sometimes you’ll learn more about the client in those few minutes because they try to give a weeks’ worth of information about what has happened with them,” Edge said. “It doesn’t matter that I have five more meals to deliver, I will make time for that person to listen because it is important to them.”
A normal day of Meals on Wheels involves picking up the meals at the Senior Center, then delivering them along a pre-determined route directly to the homes of seniors in the area.
Meals on Wheels is done five days a week, Monday through Friday, and takes around 30 minutes to an hour to complete depending on the route taken. There is not a set schedule to volunteer.
“It is really based on the volunteer’s availability,” Rudolph said. “We need at least four drivers per day, but we do not require a certain amount of time.”
There are four different routes in Gatesville and each Wednesday a route to Hamilton is taken. Anywhere from 10 to 14 clients are seen each day per route.
“If you are over 55 years old, we have a free liability policy,” Rudolph said. “While delivering meals if a volunteer trips and falls, has a wreck, or experiences an event of injury it will kick in to help pay the deductibles.”
At the end of last year, the Meals on Wheels program stopped reimbursing volunteers for their mileage driven. Vehicles need to be provided by the volunteers as well.
“Pam is trying to get enough volunteers where a few people come on a certain day, and if a person can’t make it, then the volunteers will entwine and know each other enough to take each other’s places,” Edge said.
Volunteering does not only consist of delivering meals, but also includes coming in early to help put the coolers together and aiding with preparatory work.
“We all sit and chit-chat about everybody’s week, we are just like a family,” Rudolph said.
Edge prepares around 250 to 300 meals each week for her clients.
“When I first started, we were putting out 25 to 30 meals, and now our highest is 87 meals,” Edge said. “We are still growing, and I project that next year we are going to be making over 100 meals.”
Edge will have served at the Senior Center as the Nutrition Supervisor for one year this November.
Meals on Wheels is more than personal to Edge since her father took part in the program for years.
“My dad was getting meals delivered by Meals on Wheels in Temple, and I didn’t even know,” Edge said. “If it wasn’t for that program my dad would have been very lonely, and I am thankful that he had that.”
To qualify to receive meals from the Meals on Wheels program, visit the Senior Center to get an application or have a family member pick one up. Seniors interested in applying must be 60 years or older and homebound.
The Senior Center also provides hot meals daily at its facility for those who can drive. There are daily activities, lunch, and companionship. For those 60 years and older it will cost three dollars for a meal and any age below that will cost seven dollars.
“If we could just get people to take that initial step and come through that door, they would have a good time,” Rudolph said.
“I love my job, and I feel that what Pam and I do is important for our community,” Edge said. “We are helping people in a good way.”
The Gatesville Senior and Multi-Service Center is located at 208 N. Lutterloh Ave.
For more information, contact the Senior Center Director Pam Rudolph at 254-865-8234.
