Meals On Wheels needs more volunteers to deliver meals

The Milestone Area Agency on Aging is seeking volunteers to deliver meals in Mt. Pleasant as part of the Meals on Wheels program.

The delivery routes are covered, rain or snow, on a daily basis on Monday through Friday. The current routes that the volunteers travel has gotten so large, so another daily route has been added rather then start a waiting list for meals.

“It’s approximately an hour total for the delivery time,” said Milestone Area Agency Area Program Coordinator Lorrie Deetz. “They meet at the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church at 10:30 and pick up the food for the day.”

“Right now we have two routes that are pretty big,” said Deetz. “We are hoping that we could split those up. If we are able to do that, then the driver would have about five stops.”

“We want to make it quick for the delivery drivers,” said Deetz. “It won’t take a lot of time out of their day. It really depends on how many volunteers we get.”

Not only is the program expanding, they are looking to continue to serve anyone over the age of 60 that lives in the rural area of Mt. Pleasant.

The meals are approved by a dietitian, and contain one-third of the seniors’ daily requirement in all food groups. They serve hot meals once a day to the seniors to help keep them healthy and happy.

“The food is prepared in Fairfield and then driven to Mt. Pleasant,” said Deetz. “The longer the route, the more you compromise the quality of the meal. The more people that we have to drive, the shorter the routes and the better it is overall. We want to get the food to the clients as quickly as possible.”

“In the event that a client is not home to receive a meal, we will provide them with a frozen meal the day prior that they can make when they want,” said Deetz. “That way they are not going without a meal.”

The program also serves as a wellness check on its clients so when they don’t answer their door, the volunteers get worried.

“We do this daily,” said Deetz. “We try to engage with the client, and make sure that they are okay. That personal interaction is very important to both the client and the volunteer.”

“We want enough volunteers to do this on a daily basis,” said Deetz. “Volunteers are a huge part of our program.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer may contact Deetz at 641-472-4403 in Fairfield for more information.