Meals on Wheels provides support for elderly in need

Meals on Wheels is an organization that provides meals for elderly people who are vulnerable and considered home-bound. A volunteer from Meals on Wheels hand delivers three meals to elderly in need, Monday through Friday.

The organization also provides welfare checks. Lots of the people who receive Meals on Wheels don’t have family in the area or anyone else they can communicate with or rely on.

“They don’t see anyone all day and they’re like waiting at the window for me, Just for me, because I’m a friendly face and can give them a smile,” volunteer Sheila Keith said.

“It’s good to have someone come here to make you laugh, enjoy to see their faces. So many people they don’t have that,” Meals on Wheels recipient Linda Hobson said.

Nearly one thousand people are still missing from the Camp Fire in Northern California and many are elderly.

This begs the question, what are elderly people who are home-bound supposed to do in times of an emergency?

Meals on Wheels has even been helpful in emergency situations before.

“We were able to let emergency personnel know where are clients were and who they should be looking for and what their needs were,” Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Viveca Lohr said. “We could say, so and so needs oxygen, and if the power is out we need to make sure this person has their oxygen or has a resource.”

To check if you think a loved one would qualify for Meals on Wheels you can visit their website.