Meals on Wheels — More Than Just a Meal
By Daniel R. Murphy, Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — For over 30 years, the Meals on Wheels program has ensured nutritious meals for Brownsville’s seniors and shut-ins. Despite its success over the years, the program is facing a serious problem: a lack of volunteers, especially delivery drivers.
Grants fund Meals on Wheels. Meals cost over $12 each to prepare and deliver, but seniors often pay much less than that. They can pay as little as $3.50 per meal if they cannot afford to pay more.
Locally, the meals are prepared in a kitchen in the First Christian Church, up on the hill just north of the bridge.
Kay Prim is the project manager, but because of a lack of volunteers, she also drives a delivery route. Additional volunteers include Sandy Sayer, Jack Sayer, Charlotte Bates, Jimi Nousen, Mark Chavnetzi, and Judie Whitfield. They tell us stories about elders who are having a difficult time caring for themselves, about people living alone who crave conversation. They benefit from the visits by the drivers and if a problem needs addressing the drivers can seek help.
The program badly needs at least two additional volunteers to be drivers. The more people who volunteer, the less work there will be for those who are on the job. It is an opportunity to make a difference for many people who are all alone.
You can contact Meals on Wheels at 541-466-5015. It is located at 117 N Main Street at the Brownsville Christian Church.