City, County commissioners to help Salina Meals On Wheels Wednesday

When it comes to learning about delivering for Salina Meals On Wheels (MOW), who better to learn from than a couple of experienced drivers? It’s even better when those two also happen to be one’s parents.

Leah and Richard Blanchard will be showing their son, Salina City Commissioner Jon Blanchard, what it takes to be a MOW driver as a part of March for Meals Wednesday Additionally, longtime MOW driver Brad Catt will be demonstrating MOW procedures to Saline County Commissioner John Price.

“We’re thrilled that both Commissioner Blanchard and Commissioner Price are helping us with this important initiative,” said Leslie Eikleberry, Executive Director of the Saline County Commission on Aging, which operates the Salina Meals On Wheels program.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America created the March for Meals campaign in 2002 to raise awareness about senior hunger.

Historical Perspective

The Salina Meals On Wheels program was established in 1970 by the Service Circle of the Presbyterian Church and St. John’s Hospital, Salina Meals On Wheels first delivered 12 meals each weekday. By 1979, that number grew to 42 meals per delivery day.

Now a program of the Saline County Commission on Aging, Salina Meals On Wheels currently relies on hundreds of volunteers to deliver 160-170 hot, nutritious meals each weekday. Additionally, hundreds of frozen meals are delivered each week for use on weekends and holidays. Both hot and frozen meals are prepared by a professional cooking staff in the kitchen of the Salina Senior Center, 245 N. Ninth. Most meals include an entrée, two vegetable or fruit side dishes, bread, dessert, and milk.

Much More Than Food

Karen Chamoff, Salina Meals On Wheels Program Director, noted however, that MOW is more than just a meal delivery service.

“In some cases, meeting our Meals On Wheels drivers at the door is the only regular contact our customers have with another human being,” Chamoff explained.

For more information about the Salina Meals on Wheels program or being a Salina Meals on Wheels volunteer, please call 823-7555.