The volunteers are trained to watch for changes or problems in the living situation. When problems are reported, the emergency contact person is notified immediately to deal with the problem. Besides hot noon meals, cold suppers, frozen weekend meals, pet food, library books, flowers at Christmas and May Day, cards made by school children, Senior Times, and Business Journal newspapers are all delivered. A minimum of three days is required and since many recipients are recovering from surgery, illness or injury they use us for less than a month. Anyone can refer a recipient.
Information is taken over the telephone and service begins the next day.
Elderly persons living alone or caring for an ill spouse often do not have the will, energy, or time to shop and prepare hot nutritious meals. Cereal, eggs and peanut butter or cheese sandwiches are frequent dinners. They quickly become malnourished and may need hospitalization. Receiving meals means they are no longer able to care for themselves and is a loss of independence they are reluctant to admit. Doing it to help adult children, or to stay out of nursing homes are successful ploys to entice the reluctant.