Meals on Wheels seeks delivery volunteers
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The Meals on Wheels program is looking to spread the word about its services and is looking for a few more volunteers to help deliver meals.
"It’s a great program," said David Williams, executive director of Meals on Wheels for Robbinsville. "I am hoping to get the word out to all homebound Robbinsville residents who may need our services."
He said he has been the executive director for the past six years and reflected on how he got involved in the program.
"I got into it when my mother, who lives in Pennsylvania, was on it many, many years ago before she passed," Mr. Williams said. "That’s how I got into it."
The program is in need of substitute drivers.
"We need volunteers for sub drivers," he said. "I am hoping to get that word out."
Lunches are delivered Monday through Friday between noon and 1 p.m.
"Currently we have 14 clients," he said, adding it changes and there can be as high as 22 clients due to the size of the kitchen at the Robbinsville Senior Center.
"If I could keep it up around 20 to 22 people, I would be happy," he added.
"We have two routes and it takes between 30 to 45 minutes to deliver each one," he said. "Drivers must have their own car and be available between noon and 1 p.m."
The program only delivers on weekdays, he added.
There are 10 regular drivers and a total of 19 volunteers, including Mr. Williams.
"We have regular drivers that drive the same route every Monday, then a different driver on Tuesday, but the sub drivers I need a couple of more when the regular drivers need time off," he said. "It may be once a month or every couple of weeks. I could use another two to four volunteers who are available on most days. If they are available only a single day a week, we can still use them."
Sub drivers will "shadow a regular driver on each route before they would deliver on their own."
"I have step-by-step directions from the Senior Center to each house on the two routes," he said.
He said that the majority of the clients are seniors, but not all of them.
The only requirements to qualify for the program are that you need to be a Robbinsville resident and homebound.
"There is no age limit," he said. "That’s where they get confused. They think it is just seniors only."
Robbinsville’s program started in 1995.
"There’s got to be more people out there, I would think," Mr. Williams said. "If people can’t afford it we don’t charge. We don’t turn anybody away due to finances."
The cost is $2.60 per meal.
"We deliver between 14 to 22 meals a day depending on the need," he said. "We piggyback off the Mercer County nutrition program. Whatever is served here is nutritiously balanced."
According to the website, the Meals on Wheels program helps people to remain independent, maintain their nutritional health, act as a referral source, and live their life with dignity.
For Mr. Williams, the highlight of the program is "the clients."
"They are fun," he said.
"I try to have a lot of fun," he said. "I like to keep it light and fun. I try to drive at least once or twice a month and bust the clients chops a little bit and make sure they know I’m out here."
The program is more than just serving food, it is also provides a safety check.
"It’s a good safety check for them," he said. "What happens is if we expect a client to be there and the driver shows up rings the doorbell and nobody answers then the driver will call the client. If they don’t pick up then the driver calls me and I will call the house once again. If I don’t get a response, I call the emergency contact. Then if I can’t get a hold of them then I call 9-1-1 and I will meet them at the location."
There have been four or five occasions when the police have been called and on two of those people were in distress, he added.
"A lot of times we are the only outside contact they have," he said.
For more information visit the township website at http://www.robbinsville-twp.org/Community/mealsonwheels.html or contact Mr. Williams at (609) 273-0133.