Community
BY HEATHER MCCULLOUGH
Recipient Vertalee greets Meals on Wheels volunteers who are delivering her a meal.
COURTESY METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS
Metroport Meals on Wheels volunteer Rick gives recipient Lucille a meal.
Metroport Meals On Wheels volunteers Chuck and Katie Simpson load up their car with holiday gifts for homebound seniors.
COURTESY METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS
COURTESY METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS
Metroport Meals on Wheels brings joy to local seniors
Metroport Meals on Wheels o ers a chance for individuals in need of food to connect with the volunteers who bring them warm meals. “The personal connection between the vol- unteers and the participants is huge,” Executive Director Mary King said. “The volunteers love it [and] the participants look forward to it.” Meals are dropped o to homes of individuals who cannot cook for themselves. Metroport Meals on Wheels also delivers meals to local senior living facilities, King said. The overview Metroport Meals on Wheels is located o US 377 in Roanoke and services people in northeast Tar- rant County, south Denton County and south Wise County, King said. Meals come from restaurant and grocery store partners such as Central Market in Southlake, Snooty Pig Cafe in Argyle and Dove Creek Cafe in Roanoke. Individuals or caregivers who need meals can call Metroport Meals on Wheels to see if they are eligible for hot meals delivered directly to their home ve days a week, King said. The impact Metroport Meals on Wheels volunteers don’t just assist seniors. The organization also provides meals for anyone who may not be able to make a meal for themselves. “A lot of people are never going to have the
luxury of living to be 60; they need help when they need it, not at some mystical age,” King said. “Looking at who gets meals; is it someone who can consistently cook and shop for themselves? If they cannot, that would be an eligibility factor. If they are chronically isolated, that would be an eligibility factor.” One participant of the program su ered from terminal breast cancer and lived with her daughter who was single, King said. Metroport Meals on Wheels provided meals to the mother while her daughter was working, relieving some of their nancial burden. “[These] meals brought peace of mind for both as well as stress relief for [the daughter], allowing her to spend quality time with her dying mother,” King said. How to help Metroport Meals on Wheels is always looking for volunteers to deliver meals, King said. “Ideally, our volunteers drive one day a month,” King said. “That’s [around] 22 days a month that we have meals going out.” Volunteers pick up meals from Metroport Meals On Wheel’s restaurant partners and follow the route given to them to deliver the meals. Individu- als who are delivering meals must be 18 or older. “A lot of our volunteers have younger children and they’ll bring the younger children with them and that is wonderful,” King said. “The seniors
Sadie’s, a consignment shop, donates all its proceeds to Metroport Meals on Wheels.
HEATHER MCCULLOUGH COMMUNITY IMPACT
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generally love it.” One way Metroport Meals on Wheels funds its program is through Sadie’s, a resale store that sells furniture, clothes, books and trinkets. Sadie’s generates funds for the program by donating all proceeds from merchandise sold to Metroport Meals on Wheels’ delivered meal programs, according to its website. The shop is located at 432 US 377 in Roanoke, next door to Metroport Meals on Wheels.
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KELLER ROANOKE NORTHEAST FORT WORTH EDITION
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