Meals on Wheels is a growing community

At this time of year, I typically write about one of the many wonderful fall vegetables that Americans look forward to enjoying at our Thanksgiving feasts. This year, I want to focus instead on the many people in our communities who have difficulty preparing even simple meals for themselves, people who eventually find their way to the Meals on Wheels (MOW) program.

MOW menus are designed to provide one-third of the daily nutrients required for older adults. Each person receives a hot meal that they can eat immediately or save for dinner. Most food providers (in Chester County, that’s 13 different kitchens) can accommodate special diets.

MOW in Chester County began in 1971 and has now grown to 21 chapters. In the Phoenixville chapter, which includes Spring City and East Pikeland Township, about 60 meals are delivered each day. Clients contribute, if able, to the cost of the meals they receive.

On the surface, MOW is “just” a delivery service that brings prepared food to people who need it. But there’s another, unintentional service that Meals on Wheels provides: volunteers act as a safety link. For instance, if a volunteer arrives at a home and no one comes to the door, or if a cooler has been left outside but the prior day’s meal is still in it, he/ she contacts the MOW coordinator, who will phone the client. If there is no answer, the coordinator will then contact a family member. There have been times when the office calls the local police to do a wellness check. Clients have been found on the floor and in need of help. This added benefit gives family members peace of mind for loved ones who live alone.

Additionally, if you talk to the people who make the deliveries or once you start volunteering yourself, as I have, you come to understand that there’s even more to it than that. When you deliver meals, you can’t help but become interested in the lives of those you’re interacting with, and your sense of community and belonging shifts in a very positive way.

One of the toughest changes caused by the pandemic — until vaccines became available — was that we no longer had personal contact with our clients. Instead, we had to place the meals in coolers left outside, ring the bell, and leave. We missed the little chats we used to have and we’re certain that our clients missed them, too.

My purpose here is not just to write a feel-good piece about the Meals on Wheels program, but to invite you to get involved. It’s not a huge time commitment, though it’s best suited to retirees or others on a flexible daytime schedule, since deliveries are made around lunchtime. I find that it usually takes about two hours. It depends, or course, on how many clients are on the route; they cycle on and off.

You can sign up for just a single day. For instance, you might deliver on the second Tuesday each month. I do two days. On one, I team up with a neighbor; it’s a great chance for us to catch up. On the other day, my husband and I do the deliveries; it gives us a little extra time together, and we all enjoy exploring new neighborhoods.

At a recent annual volunteer recognition event for the greater Phoenixville area, I counted about 45 people in attendance. In the group, I saw only one person who might have been younger than I am. (I’m approaching 70.) Most looked to be in their mid-70s and older. The neighbor I team up with is 94, way older than most of the people we deliver to. We need some younger people to volunteer!

To learn more about how you can help with MOW, go to https://mowcc.org/sign-up-todeliver-meals or call 610-4308500.