Our friend, Alan does Meals on Wheels in Chicago and has always told us that it is a rewarding way to spend some of his retirement time. When we learned about a similar program here in Hawaii a few months ago through AARP, Art decided to look into it.
We met some very nice people on Wednesday at an orientation session in a Manoa church.
Meals on Wheels has nearly 320 volunteers and delivered 82,000 meals around the island in 2012.
The meals are cooked in hospitals and nursing facilities using dietary and nutritional guidelines Monday through Friday. Clients are mostly over 60 and younger people needing this special assistance.
Volunteers do more than deliver meals. They provide a smiling face and friendly words. They are checking in on their clients to make sure all is going well. If something is wrong, the office is immediately contacted so further assistance can be sent out. People who are able to pay for the meals do. Those who can't are not denied the food.
Volunteers were cautioned not to do more than deliver the meals and have a short friendly chat. I'm saying short because they have quite a few meals to deliver in an hour and a half. There is also the liability issue if volunteers start trying to help in other areas. I'm glad they were very clear in cautioning the volunteers about this because I know Art would be the first one trying to help mow someone's lawn or painting their porch or whatever.
I was really impressed with how caring, organized and enthusiastic the leaders of Meals on Wheels were. I also liked the fact that although the program began with the cooperation of about ten churches, they are very strict about not proselytizing. They told everyone to keep their bias (or prejudice) of any kind away from this very worthy endeavor.
Art happily signed up today to be a back-up driver for now, and I'm glad he did. Regular volunteers usually do it just once a week. I know Art will enjoy this since he always likes helping people.
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| Art, filling out application form |
Meals on Wheels has nearly 320 volunteers and delivered 82,000 meals around the island in 2012.
The meals are cooked in hospitals and nursing facilities using dietary and nutritional guidelines Monday through Friday. Clients are mostly over 60 and younger people needing this special assistance.
Volunteers do more than deliver meals. They provide a smiling face and friendly words. They are checking in on their clients to make sure all is going well. If something is wrong, the office is immediately contacted so further assistance can be sent out. People who are able to pay for the meals do. Those who can't are not denied the food.
Volunteers were cautioned not to do more than deliver the meals and have a short friendly chat. I'm saying short because they have quite a few meals to deliver in an hour and a half. There is also the liability issue if volunteers start trying to help in other areas. I'm glad they were very clear in cautioning the volunteers about this because I know Art would be the first one trying to help mow someone's lawn or painting their porch or whatever.
I was really impressed with how caring, organized and enthusiastic the leaders of Meals on Wheels were. I also liked the fact that although the program began with the cooperation of about ten churches, they are very strict about not proselytizing. They told everyone to keep their bias (or prejudice) of any kind away from this very worthy endeavor.
Art happily signed up today to be a back-up driver for now, and I'm glad he did. Regular volunteers usually do it just once a week. I know Art will enjoy this since he always likes helping people.
Bless his heart!!! What a neat thing for Art to do. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a companion organization to MOW that would accept handy men volunteers who would actually mow,repair or paint when the need was discovered by the meals on wheels fellows. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteThat really sounds like a wonderful idea, Patti.
DeleteThat's a wonderful idea, Patti! I know Art would be one of the first to sign up. They have Meals on Wheels organized from my very own Senior Center, too. Although I don't volunteer, maybe I'll start. I'll check it out. Thanks, Kay, for the idea.
ReplyDeletegood for Art, I'm sure he'll get a lot out of it.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite the helpful organization-what a good thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great way for Art to use some of his time to help people. I bet there will be some interesting stories that come from his volunteer work.
ReplyDeletegood for Art, Kay! That is a good program.
ReplyDeletea great cause
ReplyDeleteAfter he retired my uncle drove a SCAT bus for years-senior citizens area transport--and delivered meals on wheels. It kept him happy. Good for Art.
ReplyDeleteJust dropping off a meal and saying hello really can make a difference in someone's life.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it nice to have a husband who cares about others? Mine is out delivering firewood in the pouring rain to people who need it.
And isn't that why we married them? Your husband is such a sweet man.
DeleteI have been a Meals On Wheels volunteer for a few years now. The Methodist Church cooks the meals and packages them and several churches pick up the meals and delivers them.
ReplyDeleteThe people we deliver to are always so grateful.
I think they like the kind words as much as they do the food.
That's exactly what they told us. We will benefit just as much as they.
DeleteWonderful you are doing this. My boss went out at noon and delivered meals too. Dianne
ReplyDeleteGood gosh! Your boss must have been an amazing man to give up his lunch hour to do this. Wow!
DeleteI came to catch up on all your posts Kay..I have fallen behind again. Of course you would want to be involved in this program..I really admire people who do especially here when the weather is awful..hugs to you and Art..Michelle
ReplyDeleteA well-known local journalist, sports and opera commentator who has developed macular degeneration and is now blind spoke at my wife, Helen's, Memorial Service. A friend in the audience later told me, "I have delivered Meals on Wheels to him many times." You never know.
ReplyDeleteLiving as I do now by myself, I notice I eat in a very peculiar fashion. Some day Meals on Wheels may be indicated, but not yet, as there is always Grape Nuts, crunchy granola, and Zippy's! Plus I CAN cook. Also, checking on the client is really, really important as I know of quite a few cases where a Senior Citizen has fallen and been undiscovered for two or three days.
Actually, I had heard that Meals on Wheels was declining because of lack of money. Is it now on the upswing or are there various sponsors?
They didn't say they were having problems at this Meals on Wheels and were even talking about expanding some routes. It really sounded like a fabulous program.
DeleteThis is wonderful stuff. Thank you Art.
ReplyDeleteOur friend Duck got them his last few months at home. The only problem was that his mind couldn't figure out how to open those sealed tightly hot meals. He always threw them away.
Oh no... That's so sad. I don't know what these meals are like. I guess we'll find out.
DeleteSometimes I try to imagine how the world could be if every country had a few million like you and Art.
ReplyDeleteAwww... That's very kind of you, Dina.
DeleteI have great memories from volunteering for Meals on Wheels. You are good people!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like MOW is better in Hawaii than in greater K.C. I'm stunned nursing homes and hospitals will prepare food for MOW. Here, the common complaint is that it's so cold and not very tasty. My clerical office used to go out as two-person teams to deliver, mostly because the owner want us involved. Have fun, Art! DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteThe organizer did say I could accompany Art on his drives when the time comes. Should be interesting. We already make deliveries back and forth to three of our aunts around town every week. My mother always wants to send things over to her two sisters and they have things they want to give her. We also make tofu deliveries to several family members and friends every Thursday after Tai-chi. Keeps us busy.
DeleteI forgot to say that the MOW said that the hospitals and nursing homes are better equipped to create meals with dietary restrictions. I hope they're tasty. The meals must be delivered within an hour and a half for safety reasons and kept in a "cooler" (for hot and cold) pack.
DeleteDina said it!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Waikiki-Side
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° > <3
It is a wonderful organization and good for Art to sign up to such a worthy cause.
ReplyDeleteDavid's aunt drove around Calgary, delivering Meals on Wheels. She was so vibrant and energetic, and everyone, including me, adored her.
ReplyDeleteArt sets a high bar for all of us.
ReplyDeleteL...w
That is just great. Art is the perfect person for this job. Drivers are so needed everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, everybody. I know each and every one of us are trying to do the best we can to help when we can.
ReplyDeleteMy parents delivered Meals on Wheels for many years, and my mother continued on alone when Dad died. It is a wonderful service.
ReplyDeleteWow! That was really special for your mom to continue doing it on her own. You really had amazing parents, Linda.
Deletethat's very kind of him..
ReplyDeleteKudos to your hubby!
ReplyDelete