Meals-on-Wheels Shares Holiday Cheer
Meals-on-Wheels Volunteer — Volunteers are the “eyes and ears” of Meals-on-Wheels, checking on the homebound elderly.
The holidays are here, and for Meals-on-Wheels, like everyone else, it is a busy and critical time of the year. With school being out and people going on vacation, Meals-on-Wheels needs caring volunteers and supporters to share holiday cheer. You may be involved by helping to deliver meals during the holidays, or give back a little something to a homebound person. Meals-on-Wheels will be serving on Christmas and New Year’s Eve this year.
This time of year, especially, elderly people that live alone tend to suffer from depression, and there is an even greater need to check on the homebound disabled and elderly persons in the community. “With the holidays approaching, it is more important than ever, for dedicated volunteers to be available to check on our seniors daily,” said Lisa Gordon, volunteer coordinator for Ellis County.
Currently, Meals-on-Wheels has over 40 delivery routes providing meals countywide, with the need for more. Meals-on-Wheels depends on its volunteers to deliver to 12 communities in Ellis County.
“Also during the Holidays, many people share holiday sentiments with our clients by donating personal items or canned goods and making Christmas cards,” added Gordon.
Meals-on-Wheels is projected to feed over 50,000 meals—lunch and breakfast—between Thanksgiving Day and the first of the New Year, serving 750 people each day of the week. This is the time of year the organization also conducts its annual holiday appeal, and is accepting donations to help with the cost of meals. One home-delivered meal costs $6.45.
“With daily contact from our volunteers, Meals-on-Wheels helps them deal with the loneliness that many feel, especially during the holidays,” added Gordon. “In some cases, the volunteer might be the only person they see, and we hope to bring them a little holiday cheer through our deliveries,” she continued.
If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or if you know of someone who could benefit from Meals-on-Wheels services, please contact the Meals-on-Wheels offices at 972-351-9943 or online at www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org. Meals-on-Wheels is a community-based non-profit organization serving the residents of Johnson and Ellis Counties for over 33 years.