Delivering a hot meal each day to almost 650 elderly and disabled adults is only the beginning of what Meals on Wheels volunteers offer their Anderson County neighbors. A daily check-in and warm greeting are equally important.
“I think for all of us during Covid were able to relate to the fact that isolation can be very crippling to us as individuals,” said Meals on Wheels Development Director Melanie Wagner. “For our senior community, many of them have always dealt with that. So, for Meals on Wheels, we always say that we’re more than a meal.”
Volunteers are the heartbeat of the 45-year-old nonprofit organization, but Covid put a dent in the 300-400 volunteers that serve Meals on Wheels on a regular basis. So much so that hot meals are being delivered three days each week rather than the traditional Monday through Friday schedule. Anderson Meals of Wheels needs 85 additional volunteers to resume five-day delivery.
“Right now, we are able to do our Monday-Wednesday-Friday delivery, which is still what we did during Covid,” Wagner said. “If we could bump up our volunteer numbers, we will be able to reintroduce our Tuesday-Thursday delivery so we can go back to five days per week.”
Meals on Wheels serves elderly and disabled adults in Anderson County from Pendleton to Starr-Iva and into the Powdersville community. Recipients are those age 60 and older without the physical or cognitive ability to prepare their own meals. And according to a Meals on Wheels study, this homebound community is at higher risk for depression due to its isolated living situation.
Those who volunteer to deliver meals pick up a route sheet, cold drinks and hot meals in insulated bags from Meals on Wheels at 105 S. Fant Street. The average number of deliveries per route is 15 and delivery takes an average of two hours, according to Wagner.
In addition to individuals, businesses and churches can field delivery teams that adopt a route one day per week.
“Churches can get a Sunday School class together. It’s a great way for everyone to be involved and give a little bit, but make a huge impact,” Wagner said.
For information on volunteering, contact Hannah Applewhite at (864) 225-6800 or email hannah@acmow.org.
