By Eleanor Swaim
Staff Writer
Photo provided by Senior Services
Meals on Wheels participant receives a meal from a volunteer.
In Winston-Salem, there are people of all ages, some of whom require more assistance than others. At first glance, Meals on Wheels might seem like a program that solely provides food to elderly people, but it does so much more than that. Meals on Wheels is a nonprofit organization that works to bridge the gap between older and younger populations nationwide.1
Paige Reilly, the volunteer coordinator of Meals on Wheels, cares deeply about her job and the people she impacts. She makes the point that this program is more than just a source of food; it’s a way for the elderly to have someone to talk to.
“The most important thing is that I think we provide beyond the meal, even maybe more important than the meal,” Reilly said. “It’s that contact every day with these folks. Because a lot of these individuals live by themselves, they may not have family nearby. We may be the only people that they see that day.”
Forsyth County has the fourth-largest elderly population in North Carolina, with over 20% of the population over the age of 65. Some of these people are still capable of obtaining meals regularly; however, the less fortunate ones are not able to have a regular and sufficient source of food.
The Meals on Wheels volunteers are what make this program so important. Even with busy schedules, they make time to help these less-fortunate people whenever they can, building strong relationships with them with each delivery.
88-year-old Meals on Wheels participant, Eldin McClaugherty, lives alone and can’t get in and out of his house easily and efficiently. The program helps keep him living comfortably in his house, without worrying about how he gets daily meals. This isn’t just the case for him; it’s the case for so many more overlooked people in our community who need this extra help.
Over 1,000 volunteers contribute to solving this issue, providing not only meals but also someone to talk to.
“[The volunteers are] generous people,” McClaugherty said. “I’ve got one guy, named Steve, and he’ll come here and stay and talk for a while.”
To us, talking to people is like an everyday experience, but it really is something special to these people. These short conversations have such a meaningful and long-lasting impact on them.
In March of 2020, with the outbreak of COVID-19, Meals on Wheels was adamant about staying open and running, even with all the obstacles they knew they’d face. Most volunteers are over the age of 50, meaning they were understandably uncomfortable with being outside of their homes and making deliveries to people all around town. To deal with this hamper in productivity, Meals on Wheels didn’t make daily deliveries, but rather provided participants with a box of frozen meals to heat up and eat throughout the week.
When COVID began to subside, a lot of these volunteers decided that it was time for them to retire, giving the program the new challenge of recruiting new and younger volunteers to help out. Over 200 of the routes were uncovered, meaning they needed a source of extra help to keep the program running.
Recently, sports teams from schools around town have been stepping up to help with this issue, spending time volunteering during the weekends and after school during weekdays.
“Just by delivering a few meals, these people are making such a huge difference in their community,” Reilly said. “But we are always in need of some more volunteers!”
Some volunteers interact with the participants with a quick “Hello!” and “Have a great day!” or a quick conversation about the weather that day. In contrast, others go above and beyond.
“[One volunteer] had a participant on their route, and they got to know this lady,” Reilly said. “She had a little dog, whom the volunteer really liked. When she got to the point where she needed to go to an assisted living facility and couldn’t take the dog with her, they actually adopted the dog. And when she passed away, they brought the dog to her funeral.”
This is just one story out of so many cases where the volunteers went the extra mile. Often, many people find themselves asking, “Does Meals on Wheels do more than just deliver food?”
This nonprofit hosts two drives throughout the year, fundraising money and collecting everyday items, like shampoos and paper towels, to gift to the participants. The Christmas in July drive, along with the Remember in December drive, contributes to keeping Meals on Wheels on its feet.
“They bring in things that we take for granted that are always available to us, things we can go buy at the grocery store,” Reilly said. “But most of the time, these people can’t, so we hold these drives in hopes of providing them with a better source of these necessities.”
Apart from the delivery of meals and interactions, Meals on Wheels is also a form of checking in on participants. Most participants don’t have caregivers to check on them daily or even weekly. So, in the event that someone falls or doesn’t feel well, Meals on Wheels provides a chance for them to have someone checking up on them. If they aren’t able to make it to the door, the volunteer will contact senior services to make sure there’s nothing wrong. Unfortunately, there have been multiple instances where a person has fallen. Without someone coming and knocking on their door, they’d be there until they could get help. That could be days away. These unfortunate situations explain Meals on Wheels’ importance to the community.
To be eligible as a Meals on Wheels participant, you have to be over 60 and unable to access a grocery store, restaurant, or another person who can provide you with a regular and sufficient meal each day. To be a volunteer, it’s easy! Visit the Meals on Wheels website to learn more about this program. Volunteering isn’t just about getting hours for a service club you’re involved in; it’s about giving back to your community and being a part of something bigger than just yourself.
Delivering over 250 million meals throughout the country every year, Meals on Wheels has a far-reaching impact everywhere. By connecting older and younger demographics, it connects entire communities, one meal at a time.