Meals on Wheels (MOW) has been known for delivering nutritious meals to the homebound and elderly for many years. But the program is really much more than that, says Michelle Daley, Director of Nutrition Programs for the Local Office on Aging in Roanoke. The “Lets Do Lunch” annual fundraiser, to be held Friday, helps fund the local LOA program.
Beginning in Great Britain during World War II, MOW is a nationwide meal delivery program. Philadelphia started a home-delivered program in January of 1954, followed by Columbus, Ohio and Rochester, New York.
In addition to delivering meals, volunteers in the Roanoke area program also deliver Ensure (a nutritional supplement drink) and pet food. MOW also offers nutritional counseling. When a recipient isn’t home – but should be – the volunteer can alert MOW staff members, who try to reach that person, or an emergency contact to be sure the recipient is safe. Daley calls this a well-being check.
“Because they go out on their routes, [drivers] see people who really need service and this creates dedicated volunteers,” she said.
The program allows 630 recipients in Virginia’s Fifth Planning District to stay in their own homes as long as they can, according to Daley. There are 25 agencies in Virginia, like the League of Older Americans, all serving meals to the elderly. Roanoke City and Roanoke County represent “the biggest chunk” of the meals delivery program in the Fifth District.
The operation requires 300 volunteers, with some 42 more volunteers needed per day. “I’ve been here 12 years and we’ve never had enough volunteers to cover every route every day,” Daley said. Some local MOW sites are short 2-3 volunteers a day.
When short on volunteers, MOW staff members pitch in to deliver meals. The program relies mostly on retirees, but also receives help from stay-at-home parents, church and civic groups and The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke.
Local businesses, including Erie Insurance, Long and Foster and Atlantic Mutual have sent volunteers to deliver food, giving their employees an extended lunch hour. It’s a win-win situation where volunteers leave with a sense of satisfaction, said Daley, having spent a few minutes talking with the homebound elderly.
MOW will accommodate all volunteer schedules, from working once a month to delivering 2-3 times a week. Some drivers have made themselves available to substitute when there are openings on routes.
The meals arrive every morning from Canteen in coolers and hot boxes. Volunteers carry the food from the car to the recipients’ homes in baskets, she said, to protect their hands from the heat.
Volunteers may enjoy developing a personal relationship with clients over time. In many cases, the MOW volunteer is the only person a recipient will see during the typical day.
“Let’s Do Lunch,” held annually during the second week in June, is a substantial fundraiser for LOA. Money also comes from federal, state and local governments, donations and the United Way.
“Even after ‘Let’s Do Lunch,’ people can still donate any time,” Daley said.
Prospective volunteer drivers, and those wanting to make donations to MOW, may contact Michelle Daley at 345-0451, or [email protected]. Visit www.loaa.org for more information
