On April 5, 2022, Lisa Varholy (Volunteer Relations Manager for Montgomery County Meals on Wheels) spoke to the membership of the Magnolia Rotary Club about the Montgomery County Meals on Wheels organization. Pictured above from left to right are: Barbara Provencher (Magnolia Rotary Club Secretary), Lisa Varholy and Kelly McDonald (Magnolia Rotary Club President).
Lisa told everyone that the Montgomery County Meals on Wheels organization was founded in 1973 to meet the growing needs of the aging population. Lisa explained that many seniors lose some of their mobility and can no longer drive. Although they have mobility problems, many are not yet ready to enter a nursing home. However, many are singles living by themselves and need some assistance to remain at home. For these seniors, local family members are often overwhelmed, while those at a distance are unable to provide daily physical support. This reality leaves many of our home bound elderly hungry and isolated. At Meals on Wheels Montgomery County, they solve these issues with the help of community members and volunteers. Meals on Wheels provides transportation services, meals in the home (Monday through Friday), and congregate dining for those who can gather with other elderly people.
Recently, Montgomery County Wheels on Wheels created the following new programs for seniors to cover the weekends when they do not deliver::
- Breakfast Bags - Non Perishable breakfast items.
- Senior Bags - Non-Perishable and can goods.
- AniMeals - Dog and Cat food for pets.
In order to get on their list for these services, the individual (or a family member or friend) can call Meals on Wheels and ask to be added. Meals on Wheels then does some investigation to make sure the individual elderly person is legitimately in need of those services. If they pass this test, they are added to the list for the needed services.
Montgomery County Meals on Wheels currently services around 800 clients and the list is growing. Other statistics about Meals on Wheels are as follows:
- In February of 2022, they served up 22,901 meals including breakfast and senior meal bags. About 19,625 of those meals were prepared in their kitchen.
- 366 of the 800 clients are between the ages of 80 and 90. 4 are over the age of 100.
- 423 clients live alone.
Lisa then told several stories about some of her clients:
- An elderly man was provided a meal on a Friday but did not answer the door on the following Monday. He was found in a recliner which he was not able to get out of! For those 2 days, he was without food or water! The volunteer who found him called 911 and was able to help him recover.
- A long term client who lives at home by himself sees the Meals on Wheels volunteers as his "adopted" family and sends them birthday and thank you cards.
- An elderly women who recently lost her husband could not stay by herself if it were not for Meals on Wheels.
- An elderly diabetic man whose only son is a truck driver has volunteers who will call the son or emergency aid when needed.
Lisa then talked about all the opportunities to volunteer including:
- Helping in the kitchen
- Delivering food
- Working in the office
Lisa said anyone interested in volunteering needs to go to their website (https://www.mowmc.org/) to get connected. Lisa also noted that volunteering is very flexible and you can usually pick your days and hours. And for those who never know for sure when they can volunteer, they can be a volunteer sub and pick from a list (put out by email every Friday) of jobs that need to be done when a regular volunteer can not make it.
Lisa told everyone that they are funded by both donations and federal grants.
For more information, go to https://www.mowmc.org/
