Home-delivered meals program always in need of volunteers
A little bit of time and a little bit of help can mean so much to those who rely on home-delivered meals as volunteers are a driving force behind the effort.
?”We have a number of dedicated and committed volunteers who have been with us a long time,” said Leslie Grenfell, executive director of Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging, which contracts with local community organizations for home-delivered meals. “They have continued to provide this volunteer service through the economic decline and high gas prices. We are very thankful for their support of those who are in need of nutrition and unable to provide for themselves.”
But the home-delivered meals program is still in need of volunteers and lifestyle changes have been affecting the available pool of volunteers in the area.
Grenfell said, “People are continuing to work longer and take care of their grandchildren, so the pool of older volunteers has diminished because of these factors.”
Many of the centers use a mix of paid and volunteer drivers to deliver meals. And the centers are willing to accommodate volunteers.
“If somebody wants to come in and take two meals a day, that’s a help,” said Luann McDonald of the Brownsville program at Crosskeys Human Services. “Someone could take four or five in the area that they live.”
Grenfell said the centers will work around the volunteers’ schedules and they can deliver meals in a limited geographic area. For instance, Kristen Dunham, chief executive officer for Albert Gallatin Human Services, said the home-delivered meals program uses paid drivers but would like to see volunteers deliver in small pockets in areas such as Smithfield, Point Marion and Masontown.
“It’s a good way to help your neighbor,” she said.
Patti Pritts at Connellsville Senior Tigers said that paid drivers deliver to outlying areas while volunteers work in the city, not traveling more than 10 miles a day.
Debbie Bricker, project manager of aging services at Fayette County Community Action said, “We try to keep volunteers closer to their area so they don’t have a lot of travel. We do know by volunteering, you’re also volunteering your gas and your vehicle, so we are really appreciative and understand this is something you are doing from the heart in helping the community. So we try to accommodate the volunteers as much as possible.”
Joyce Miller, director of community service for Fayette County Community Action, also said, “We are going to have approximately a $30,000 deficit in Aging (program) and most of it is in the cost to deliver meals with the upkeep of two old vehicles, tires and gasoline, and the fact we had to hire an additional driver because of the lack of volunteers.”
There can be satisfaction in volunteering for the program.
“The volunteers who do it get to know the people on their routes by name,” said Pritts.
“It’s very rewarding,” said Dunham. “You feel like you’re doing something good for your community.”
“It’s nice to go out and see people and their needs,” said McDonald. “Some of them don’t see anybody.”
Bricker said, “The people are appreciative of the meals but they are more appreciative of the people bringing them.”
For more information about volunteering to deliver meals, contact the person in your area:
n Uniontown — Kathy Gregor at Fayette County Community Action at 724-437-6050, extension 2243. This center services Uniontown, North Union Township, South Union Township. The Mountain Citizens Action Group distributes to Henry Clay Township, Stewart Township, Wharton Township.
n Connellsville — Patti Pritts at Connellsville Senior Tigers at 724-626-1515. This center services Connellsville area, South Connellsville, Bullskin Township, Everson, Vanderbilt, Dawson, Dunbar area and parts of Franklin Township as well as the Connellsville side of the mountain, including Saltlick Township, Normalville, Indian Head, Mill Run and Bear Rocks.
n Masontown — Kristen Dunham at Albert Gallatin Human Services at 724-583-7822. This center serivces the area that makes up the Albert Gallatin School District, including Masontown, Point Marion, Fairchance, Smithfield, Georges, Nicholson, Springhill and German townships.
– Brownsville – Luann McConald of Crosskeys Human Services at 724-785-6180. This center services Brownsville, Republic, Smock, Newell, Jefferson Township and part of Menallen Township.
– Perryopolis – Mary Mariani of Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging at 724-489-9100, extension 4662. This center services Perryopolis, Perry Township and Lower Tyrone Township.
– Belle Vernon – Mariani is also the contact for this center at 724-489-9100, ext. 4662. This area services Belle Vernon, Fayette City and the surrounding area.