“Celebrating People in Action” for National Volunteer Week, April 19-25

During National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties is proud to honor the organization’s dedicated community of volunteers who tackle the task of delivering meals to 750 clients each day, five days a week. This is but one of the countless stories behind those that make Meals-on-Wheels a continuing success. This year’s theme, "Celebrating People in Action,” appropriately applies to those determined individuals like the Sherwoods of Waxahachie.

Robin Hood and his band of merry men were regaled as ambiguous heroes through literature and legend. Though ballads and stories profess they stole from the rich, they made up for it by giving to the poor. And of course, they called Sherwood Forest their home.

But what’s the story behind the story of Sherwood Forest? Where did the moniker for their rural residence originate?

The answer could spring forth from as unlikely a place as Waxahachie, Texas. Residents of the Ellis County seat for 20 years, Louis and Margaret Sherwood certainly seem to fit the bill. Louis is in touch with his bucolic side – hence the forest aspect of the fable. Margaret recognizes the needs of those less fortunate – which lends to one’s analogy of the selflessness associated with their namesake’s surroundings.

Though they’ve never claimed to steal from the rich, they do purloin a place from their weekly routines to give to the poor through not one route, but two – one route Louis claims while Margaret navigates and the other is Margaret’s while her counterpart of 45 years does the driving.

Since the late 1980s, Margaret Sherwood has always felt a calling to donate her time and talent to making deliveries for Meals-on-Wheels. “I thought that it’s just something that I should do,” Margaret replied.

She left briefly and then reconnected the band of merry volunteers in the 1990s when they were short of people to deliver on a regular basis. Louis joined his wife several years ago when he retired and say they both relish their routes because of the camaraderie for their clients. “We get attached,” Margaret admitted.

One that immediately comes to mind for Louis is Bryan Bird, a Meals-on-Wheels recipient whose penchant for plants has established immeasurable respect from Louis. “He does a lot of growing in pots,” Louis explained. “He gave me a bell pepper to grow in a pot. He and I get into discussions about growing every now and then and sometimes they can last a long time.” Bird’s porch and surroundings evoke a bit of Sherwood Forest as lush greenery sprouts from several pots along the porch while lilac Irises announce spring’s arrival from their vantage point encircling a majestic tree.

And true to the prediction, Louis pair engages Bird in lively banter about the need for calcium when planting tomatoes and other fungus-prone plants. Bird shares some prudent counsel from his porch as Louis intently tunes in to his favorite horticulture helpline.

And Margaret? She smiles patiently from her vantage point behind the wheel of the couple’s Pontiac Vibe.

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties delivers noontime meals Monday through Friday in most of the communities served. Meals-on-Wheels is a dual-county program covering more than 1,700 square miles. The meals are delivered by caring volunteers with convenient “pick-up points.” For more information about Meals-on-Wheels services, please contact Meals-on-Wheels at 972-351-9943 or www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org.