The Meals on Wheels program in nearby Washington Township provides hot food and kind words to homebound residents.
By: Julie Gartland
If you’ve ever recovered from an illness or injury at home, alone then you’ll understand the value of the Washington Township Meals on Wheels program.
Designed specifically for homebound individuals, the non-profit organization relies solely on volunteers to deliver hot, nutritious meals every day of the week.
Most Meals on Wheels clients are elderly residents of the community, but the program is available to anyone who is housebound. A young woman in the community, for example, has cancer and receives a meal every day.
"It’s such a relief," she said. "I have to keep my nutrition up and I can’t always make it for myself, I get too tired."
Josephine Parr, a Robbinsville resident of 35 years, founded the organization, delivering the first meal on Oct. 2, 1995. The idea originated when her mother needed this kind of help, but there were no such programs available.
The delivery of lunch is quick, succinct and cheerful. Although the clients would like the volunteer to stay longer, the volunteer is always mindful that each client deserves to have a piping hot meal, which is kept hot in thermal bags.
Volunteers have been known to return to the client’s home later to spend time with them. There are, however, other programs available in the township where volunteers visit homebound senior citizens.
The volunteers who deliver the meal are provided with a list of names, addresses and directions, and just enough information about the client’s condition to alert them if special attention is needed.
If the client is hard of hearing, the volunteer will know to knock hard on the door, or if the client is wheelchair-bound, they will open the door and announce themselves.
"You never know what you’ll find in these homes," said volunteer coordinator Nicole Fehn, who allowed me to join her and her husband, Eddie, on a delivery route that included the Foxmoor community and Route 130 in Robbinsville. The route included eight deliveries, covering about 16 miles over a period of an hour.
"One time we opened the door to an elderly woman on the floor. We called 911 and she was taken to the hospital," said Ms. Fehn. "You have to be ready for it."
Some of the elderly clients may have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
"Sometimes they are confused and don’t remember that a meal was delivered to them," said Ms. Fehn. Known for her dedication, Ms. Parr, the program’s executive director, follows up with all the clients once a week, and more often if needed.
One client, who is hard of hearing, knows to expect a meal around 12:30 p.m. and is not surprised when her door is opened and Ms. Fehn yells, "Hello, we’re from Meals on Wheels."
She thinks the program is wonderful. "It’s a good feeling because you see people and the food is always hot. But before you know it, they’re off and running."
The volunteer goes into the home and puts the food in the kitchen or on a table. They ask how the client feels and have a brief conversation to determine if there are any problems. Then the volunteer wishes them a good day and they’re off to the next delivery.
Ms. Fehn said she likes the hands-on contact with the clients, even though it’s brief, because they’re so appreciative.
Ms. Fehn got involved with the program at its inception in 1995 after recovering from a broken leg.
"It was an awakening for me to see what it’s like to really be on your own and need to help yourself and feed yourself," she said.
Ms. Fehn said of the program, "It’s something that’s really needed for the elderly, and it should be known to residents of the community that it’s available to those coming home from the hospital who need some help to prepare a meal." The hospitals are more inclined to inform the elderly patients about this service, she added.
Meals are delivered cold by a managed food service provider, Aramark, to the Washington Township Senior Center. Volunteers from the senior center’s nutrition program heat them up and pack them for Meals on Wheels volunteers to pick up.
Often people are referred to Meals on Wheels through word of mouth. Many hospital social services directors notify Ms. Parr of someone coming home who may need meals. In addition, her name and organization is listed in the bulletin of St. Gregory the Great Church in Hamilton Square.
Ms. Parr said she has the most wonderful, devoted volunteers because they care. "My best volunteers are those adults who are retired and can get around at lunch time," she said. Time is the hardest thing to give.
As long as the senior center is open, the program makes every attempt to deliver the meals every day, regardless of weather conditions and holidays. If there is a snowstorm, volunteers are understandably reluctant to drive, so they get someone with a four-wheel drive vehicle to deliver the meals, or Ms. Parr’s husband is always willing.
When the senior center is closed for Christmas and Thanksgiving, the program uses budgeted money for meals to be prepared by local restaurants such as Shrimp King and a local Italian restaurant.
The only expenses for the program are the meals and driving insurance. The clients are not expected to pay for the meals, but if they can donate 25 cents to $2 it is accepted to defray the costs of those who can’t pay.
A client in her early 80s, confined to a wheelchair because she has only one leg, said she loves getting her lunch delivered.
"It’s wonderful, I look forward to it every single day. When the food is brought over my day is made," she said.
Another resident in her late 80s lives in a motel room and Meals on Wheels volunteers are the only human contact she has. The client accepts the meal meekly, not opening the door much, asking only for a packet of matches to light her cigarettes.
Ms. Fehn doesn’t enter this residence as the client is able answer the door and appears to not want company.
"That’s the extent of (her) communication over the years asking for matches or cigarettes," said Ms. Fehn.
"Sometimes, we’re the only people they see," said Ms. Parr of the clients. "The payment is in the reward of gratitude in their smile."
The program currently has 10 volunteers and 12 clients. Two volunteers are needed each day for two delivery routes. The program is always in need of good, reliable volunteers.
For more information on volunteering, call Nicole Fehn, 259-7128 or Josephine Parr, 259-2282.