Meals on Wheels Caters to Local Residents by Sandra C. Liebler, M.S., Ed. Published: June 2006 Volunteers pick up meals at Aramark kitchen. “What’s for lunch?” That’s the big question for close to 100 people in the Williamsburg area currently receiving home-delivered meals from Meals on Wheels, a non-profit network of smiling volunteers who deliver to area homes Monday through Friday. To learn more about this program and who benefits from it, I recently rode alongside volunteer driver Frank Bagli, a retired banker who now drives one day a week. First, the meals are picked up from the Aramark kitchen facility on the College of William & Mary campus. They’re then delivered to homes ranging from the New Kent County line to the Lee Hall area, from upper Bruton to Queen’s Lake to Skimino Hills. The recipients live in apartments, large homes, and modest neighborhoods. Some of the people who come to the door are well up in years; others are as young as eighteen. Despite common misconceptions, Meals on Wheels isn’t a program strictly for the poor. It’s a service for anyone who needs or wants a good hot lunch but cannot prepare one for themselves. An average meal costs $4.50, sometimes less depending on a person’s financial circumstances. All meals are heart-healthy and low in fat and cholesterol, so they’re appropriate for most dietary needs. Each meal includes a hot entree, low-fat milk, bread, and a dessert. And they taste great. Volunteer Frank Bagli (left) delivers meal to Grant Roberts. Unlike in some localities, the Williamsburg-area Meals on Wheels program receives no state or federal funds. Instead it relies primarily on grants from the United Way and the Peninsula Association on Aging (PAA), in addition to local fundraising and some county and city funding. Around 150 regular and substitute volunteers use their own cars and gas for meal delivery. They don’t just deliver meals, though; with them they bring cheer and an important safety check for many of our local residents. When the volunteers gain familiarity with their customers, they’re able to learn each individual’s habits and daily routine. On one occasion, a driver was concerned when a particular customer, who normally waited eagerly at her front door at noon, did not appear. When there was no answer to repeated knocking on the door, andw when an attempt to phone her failed, the volunteer knew there was a problem. The emergency response team found her on her bedroom floor. She had fallen and could not get up or call for help. The Meals on Wheels drivers can brighten a person’s entire day, especially those meal recipients who miss out on human contact because they are unable to leave the home. But, after spending a day en route, it was clear that the volunteer drivers benefit too. They’re warmed by the pleasant encounters at each doorway as they make their daily rounds. Through this program, many lives are touched in small but significant ways. Bagli says he loves the personal relationship he feels with his customers. On a given day he makes 10 deliveries. His route includes homes of men, women and couples. Some of his regulars are elderly while others have health problems. But they all look forward to their midday meal. We stopped at the home of a 75-year-old gentleman, who was enjoying a visit from his aunt, age 83. The man has impaired eyesight, but he lives independently in a tidy home with freshly planted flowers outside. Another man, approaching his ninetieth birthday, said he enjoys the independence of living in his own home. One elderly couple on the route had left a note instructing Bagli to leave their meals in a cooler on the porch, as they had “gone to the doctor.” The home of eighty-year-old Grant Roberts was one of the final stops on Bagli’s route. This World War II veteran, who once flew B-17’s for the Air Force, proudly showed us his photos of a new great-grandchild as he graciously accepted his meal. Cathie Upton, the local Meals on Wheels program director, is well aware of the important service performed by her fleet of volunteer drivers. In April, she observed Volunteer Appreciation Week by presenting each volunteer with a travel mug and other tokens of appreciation. Her enthusiasm for the program is obvious. She recognizes the quality of the meals served as well as the reliability and dedication of her volunteers. The Meals on Wheels meal service program is a valuable community resource that may help people live independently and can sometimes be a factor in determining whether a person must consider alternatives to their own home. It also serves as a bright spot in the day for some homebound customers who look forward to their midday visit from a caring volunteer. To volunteer for Meals on Wheels, or for more information on receiving home-delivered meals, call 229-9250.

Williamsburg Health Journal 4808 Courthouse Street, Suite 204 Williamsburg, VA 23188 757-645-4475 © 2007 RIAN ENTERPRISES, LLC