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The Red Cross in London, England, originated the concept of Meals on Wheels after World War II. Meals on Wheels service was incorporated in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1974. The agency is a member of the National Association of Meals Programs and is a United Way Agency.
Meals on Wheels, for the Lynchburg area, is a service designed to assist the frail, elderly and younger disabled shut-ins by providing them with one balanced, nutritious, hot meal (lunch) five days each week. The program is for those persons who cannot cook for themselves, have no one to cook for them and may be unable to leave their homes for meals. This service allows people to stay in their homes, maintain some independence, and avoid living in costly institutions - a financial benefit to the client and the community.
Any adult, regardless of age or income, may request our service for an extended or short period of time. This program serves people who need prepared meals due to a permanent disability or temporary disability such as recuperating from a stay in the hospital.
A Meals on Wheels delivery also provides a reassuring "check-in" on those who live alone. Any unanswered delivery is reported and investigated. Any changes in a client’s health or needs are followed up on by Meals on Wheels staff. If appropriate, referrals to family, physician, or community service organizations are made.
Meals on Wheels hot lunches consist of meat, one vegetable, one starch, salad or fruit, milk or juice, bread, and dessert. All menus are planned by a registered dietitian. Special dietary needs are met when requested by a physician. Emergency bags are available as needed.
Meals are delivered mid-day, Monday through Friday including all holidays. Volunteers deliver the meals in their own cars at their own expense, which helps keep the cost of meals low. A special group of drivers is organized to deliver meals in the event of adverse weather conditions, particularly snow, and ice. Meals on Wheels serve people who live in the city of Lynchburg and the surrounding areas of Madison Heights, Amherst County, Campbell County, and Bedford County.
Meals on Wheels receive support from the United Way of Central Virginia, client fees, and donations. About 32% of Meals on Wheels clients pay for all or part of their meals. Others are provided meals through generous contributions from the community. Our United Way grant pays for most of the administrative costs of operating Meals on Wheels, Inc.
A new program of Meals on Wheels of the Central Virginia Area, which will begin in the fall of 2002, is Breakfast in the Bag. This program will provide a cold breakfast to our neediest of our meal recipients, and will be delivered the day before with their regular noontime meal.
Over the past year while doing home visits to meal recipients, we often heard that lunchtime is the only meal that many of our clients are eating. This is due to many reasons. It could be they are physically unable to prepare another meal, or that they simply cannot afford to purchase food. In any case, they often greet our volunteers at the door, eager to have lunch because they have not had anything for the previous 18-24 hours. Our noontime meals are intended to provide 1/3 of the US recommended daily allowances as provided by the government. This is not enough nutrition for someone to maintain an active and independent life.
In response to this concern, we began to research the feasibility of providing a second daily meal to our meal recipients most in need. Our initial survey showed there was a need greater than we had imagined. Currently 20% of our meal recipients would benefit greatly from this service, and we anticipate identifying more as we continually visit our meal recipients and evaluate their needs. In fact, by the end of next year, it is estimated that we will be serving breakfast to approximately 60% of our meal recipients.
In order to accomplish this task, grants have been written to five private foundations. We have also planned two fund raising events for the coming year, and are consulting with the United Way of Central Virginia in hopes that they will consider funding this venture.
The benefits provided to our breakfast recipients will be greater nutrition, thus improved health. This will not only benefit our recipients, but will impact the entire community by helping our clients to remain in their own homes, leading healthier lives. They will not have to seek government and community funded health care and institutional care as readily with proper nutrition.
Another new venture at Meals on Wheels is the ANIMEALS program, which was developed in response to the needs of our meal recipients. In doing regularly scheduled home visits, we learned that some of our clients were sharing their meals with their pets because they simply could not afford to purchase animal food. After researching and learning of the great health benefits that are provided to senior citizens by having a pet, we decided that something needed to be done to help folks get food for their pets.
The ANIMEALS program began in June of 2002. At that we planned on giving to our pet owners 5 lbs. of pet food supplements each month. The response from the community has been such that in only 3 months over 1,500 lbs. of pet food has been distributed, allowing us to give a full month supply to each recipient.
The ANIMEALS program does not accept monetary donations. Instead, people are encouraged to give donations of dog and cat food. Since we have limited space for storage, Peaksview Animal Hospital has agreed to serve as a collection location for donations of pet food. In addition, the ANIMEALS program has cultivated more volunteers who help with the ANIMEALS deliveries.
Meals on Wheels strives to be responsive to the needs of clients through innovative programs such as ANIMEALS and Breakfast in the Bag. We invite you to be a partner in this very important ministry by a.)Volunteering or b.) Donating. |
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