The next best thing to having someone cook and serve a fresh hot meal right in your own home is to have someone walk right up, knock on the door and bring you a fresh, hot meal.
They’ve been doing this for years at Meals on Wheels, ever since it began in 1972 with a federally-funded program called Elderly Nutritional Program.
“We have 65 home deliveries each day, Monday through Friday,” said Pam Schaeffer, kitchen supervisor at the Codding Recreation Center in Rohnert Park. Deliveries are made between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. by two staff drivers plus the required number of volunteer drivers to assist.
“We’re pretty busy during those two hours, preparing meals for the lunches we serve here at the center and packing all the insulated thermal containers for the drivers,” she said.
The containers have straps, buckles and zippers to keep everything at the right temperature including chilled compartments for cold salads. Each volunteer driver uses his or her own car and they keep track of their mileage and are reimbursed for their trips.
“The most deliveries they can make is about 65 - that’s a lot, but most are less than that,” said Schaeffer. “For a lot of the elderly recipients, especially for those living alone, this meal delivery is the highlight of the day. It can lead to lots of conversations about current events or unforgettable memories. The drivers simply have to tell them they have to hurry to their next stop and ‘we will talk some more tomorrow, we’ll be back.’”
Cost for each delivered meal is $3.50, but it’s a voluntary contribution to the program. There are no income limits, recipients have to be over 60 and have limited ability to prepare their own meals. Some have been with the program for eight or nine years. Some are just recovering from surgery and only stay with it for several weeks.
“We consistently have a need for volunteer drivers,” said Schaeffer. “And we have a manual for drivers which answers all the questions. Yes, I can also take over a delivery route if needed.”
Meals on Wheels is funded with federal plus local sources but in these days of economic recession it’s touch and go fiscally.
So the Council on Aging in Santa Rosa has set up a “Feed A Senior” program working with local supermarkets to accept $3.50 contributions to go directly to the Council. Customers can simply tell the checkout counter worker to add $3.50 to their bill. Participating in this program are Pacific Market in RP and Oliver’s Market in Cotati.
Schaeffer, 65, has been with the senior dining site and Meals on Wheels for 11 years. Born in Oakland and raised and went to schools in Daly City, she and her husband, Bill, have three adult children and five grandchildren.
“I love this work. It’s really a ‘feel good’ job, the kind I enjoy,” she said. “If you’re curious about how the program works, call me about noontime, 585-6787, Or better yet, I may be kind of busy, call the Council on Aging. Their number is 525-0143.”