Meals on Wheels keeps delivering

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Volunteers with Meals on Wheels are continuing to provide hot meals to those who may not be able to cook for themselves, though some areas are reporting a need for more volunteers.

“We know these people need the food, so we are out there. We are doing our best to sanitize everything,” said Rose Marshall, site coordinator for Meals on Wheels in McKeesport. 

Maintaining the health and safety of the volunteers and the participants is of paramount importance.

“I am having some volunteers call off because they have breathing problems. We’ve lost some drivers and deliverers. I tell them all that if they have any concerns, don’t come in,” Marshall said. “We can always use volunteers in the kitchen and driving.”

Marshall said the Mc-Keesport site delivers about 90 meals a day. While some volunteers are opting to stay home for the sake of their health, others like 90-year-old Anna Mae Puskaric, who has been volunteering for 25 years, is still showing up to help.

“We’re taking all the precautions,” Marshall said. “We are doing ‘knock and drop.’ We put the food in their coolers or on a table, then we wait to see them come and get it.”

Marshall said Meals on Wheels drivers are considered an essential service and have signs in their cars letting police know they are delivering meals so they won’t be stopped under the current restrictions in Allegheny County.

Marshall noted that while the general guidelines for receiving Meals on Wheels are to be over the age of 60 and homebond, others also qualify at least on a temporary basis, including those who recently had surgery or other life issues leaving them unable to do their own shopping for food preparation.  

The SWPA Area Agency on Aging oversees Meals on Wheels in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.

“Home-delivered meals are a vital service we provide to ensure seniors receive nutritional support throughout Washington, Fayette and Greene counties,” said Leslie Grenfell, executive director of the SWPA Area Agency on Aging. “Our volunteers, who are so critical to this service, have been stepping up in a major way as we venture through these uncertain times

Susan Badzik, senior center specialist at the Donora Senior Center, said she has had some special challenges with delivery.

The Donora site delivers about 70 meals a day, with two routes in Donora and two in Fallowfield Township. Badzik said the two Fallowfield runs are currently combined into one route because two volunteers who normally handled deliveries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays had to step down from delivery duties for the time being because the building where they live is on lockdown to safeguard the health of the residents.

“I’m out all week delivering because I don’t have drivers,” Badzik said.

Badzik said she has volunteers who can ride along with a new driver to point out the delivery route, but a new volunteer driver or two would be helpful.

“Call 724-379-6446 and ask for a volunteer form,” Badzik said.

Linda Billy, director of Center on the Hill in Washington Township, said her center added five new homes to its routes in the last few days. The site delivers about 50 meals daily.

Other area senior centers are reporting few if any changes.

Monongahela Senior Center specialist Alice Grimes said her 80-100 home-delivered meals are being distributed on time as usual.

“I have very dedicated volunteers,” Grimes said. “Some people feel compelled to do something extra to help. We’re seeing a lot of people who want to give back.”

Melissa Georgagis, senior center specialist at Riverside Place in Charleroi, said 120 meals continue to be delivered thanks to volunteers.

“As of right now, the meals are still going out,” Georgagis said. “We are calling substitutes in when needed and they are answering the call.”

To volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program, contact your nearest senior center. If you are 60 years of age or older and are in need of home-delivered meals, please call the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging Information and Assistance Unit at 1-800-734-9603.