Volunteers are essential to Meals on Wheels – without them, those wheels would screech to a halt and many deserving senior citizens would be left without a nutritious meal option and might not be able to stay in their own homes as long.
According to Carolyn Freese, lead program coordinator of senior nutrition at Semcac, people aren’t volunteering like they used to. Meals on Wheels programs are offered in Caledonia, Eitzen, Hokah, Houston, La Crescent Crestview Apartments and Spring Grove in Houston County. In Fillmore County, the program is available in Canton, Chatfield, Harmony, Lanesboro, Mabel, Peterson, Preston, Rushford, Spring Valley and Wykoff.
The biggest need for more volunteers is in Harmony; there are just one or two drivers there and they really need more help delivering meals; however, all the locations need more volunteers! As winter approaches, some elderly volunteer drivers opt not to volunteer, which makes the need even greater!
Lanesboro is an all-volunteer program. Mabel could use people to volunteer to help serve food as well as to deliver. In Preston, there are four or five key people who keep those wheels turning, but they could use a break occasionally so they don’t get burned out. Churches used to volunteer to help, but now, according to Freese, that usually is just one person doing the work. “People just aren’t volunteering like they used to,” Freese commented.
It’s easy to volunteer; you can call the office at 507-864-8231 or you can use the form at www.semcac.org. Volunteers cash choose the days they’d like to work. There is no minimum or maximum number of days. Freese shared that Semcac also needs volunteer drivers to drive people to appointments.
Semcac, based in Rushford, has offered Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining options for around 60 years. The Rushford kitchen currently makes most of the food from scratch daily for 250-300 people in 11 communities. Tracie Peterson is head cook on site and Joan Van Grundy assists her. Food from Rushford is served in Hokah, Houston, La Crescent and Spring Grove in Houston County and in Canton, Harmony, Lanesboro, Mabel, Peterson, Preston and Rushford in Fillmore County. In Stewartville, Spring Valley, Wykoff and Caledonia, clients receive catered meals from local restaurants.
Any resident living in a town served by Semcac, who is 60 years old or older and is homebound or has other issues such as auto-immune, can sign up for delivery. People who need food delivery post-surgery can sign up for short time periods as needed. In addition, residents who are younger than 60 who are on an insurance program which pays for food service can use of Meals on Wheels. All waivers go through the county.
Clients receive a monthly calendar listing the planned menus; they can choose not to get a meal a certain day if they do not like the food. Both diabetic and low salt alternative foods are available to those who need them.
Freese encourages those able to get out to come to Senior Dining. She stressed that the clients benefit from the social interaction and getting out and about. “It keeps the mind going!” she declared.
“If you volunteer, you get more out of it than you give. It’s very fulfilling – it makes you feel good inside!” Freese emphasized in closing. “Meals on Wheels keeps people in their own homes longer. We can feed people much more inexpensively than any other option. It also gives caretakers peace of mind – someone’s checking on their loved one everyday and making sure they have a nutritious meal. It’s a well-being visit.”
Rushford’s volunteers included two teams of two the particular day this reporter visited. Barb Jonsgaard and Judy Severtson were delivering in South Rushford. They estimated that it takes them less than an hour to deliver the 10-12 meals. The duo is on the schedule once every six weeks and delivers the whole week.
When asked why they volunteer, Judy replied, “‘Cause we can! It’s fun to see some of my old customers!” Judy formerly operated Judy’s Country Kitchen in Peterson.
Barb explained, “I love serving others! It’s very rewarding to do something for others!”
Chuckling, Judy added, “For some, it’s the highlight of their day!”
Jack and Lucy Vaughn were packing up their vehicle with meals for 20-24 clients who live in North Rushford. They estimated it takes them around an hour; they are on the volunteer rotation once a month and do the entire week.
Jack said he enjoys visiting people who don’t get out often and declared, “The pay is great! We get to help people!”
Semcac’s Rod Humble lauded both dependable teams of volunteers, “They are here through rain, snow and ice! Once Judy and Barb even brought me a pie!”
Rose Smith of South Rushford was happy to see Judy when she came to deliver her meal. Rose and her husband Lyle had signed up for Meals on Wheels over a year ago. When Lyle moved to the nursing home, Rose continued to get Meals on Wheels. She said she enjoys the variety of food and knows that it keeps her healthy. Her favorites are the lettuce salads.
“I think it’s a lot of work for everyone, but I enjoy getting the meals and seeing different people. Sometimes I even get hugs and prayers once in a while too!”
If you’ve been considering doing something good for others, this might be just the thing – a chance to help someone stay in their home and to provide a nutritious meal and a little company for someone who needs and appreciates it! No specific skills are needed to volunteer for Meals and Wheels – help keep those wheels turning and call Semcac at 507-864-8231 to volunteer!
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