By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
For more than 45 years, the Mountain Meals on Wheels program has provided meals to those unable to provide healthy meals for themselves. The program began on August 13, 1979, when Lucy Kelly, who at the time was the president of the Mountain Regional Council on Aging, founded the Mountain Meals on Wheels (MMOW) program when she began furnishing hot nourishing meals every weekday to people from Running Springs to Cedarpines Park who were ill or home-bound.
The cost then was $2.25 per meal, which was prepared by the Mountains Community Hospital kitchen. The healthy meals are still prepared at the hospital and adjusted to dietary needs of each recipient. The goals, needs and purpose have remained the same with the mission to provide nutritionally balanced meals to people who are frail or unable to shop or cook their own meals. The cost of the meals has increased only slightly over the decades.
Mountain Meals on Wheels is an all-volunteer organization, which relies solely on the local mountain community and charitable organizations for donations. Each driver has a short route, often near their own home. They are currently seeking additional drivers for this valuable program.
The Meals on Wheels drivers do their deliveries independently or they may bring a passenger to keep them company. Some of their drivers have been active for more than 20 years, enjoying helping others. Now that spring is upon them, they need some new volunteers, both for their board of directors and for new drivers, which they are always seeking.
Each volunteer driver, using their own vehicle, only drives once a week or every other week, picking up the meals at the hospital and usually delivering within their own community. They get schedules a month in advance so they can schedule their time. The drivers take pride in their volunteerism and get the satisfaction of knowing they are assisting those in need, enabling them to continue to live independently in their own homes.
With additional drivers, it makes it easier on each driver. It only takes about one and a half hours for a driver to complete one of the four routes that cover the mountain area, from Cedarpines Park to Green Valley Lake. If you would like to join their dedicated team of drivers, the criteria include having a valid driver’s license, an insured vehicle and being a person who likes to drive and meet people, plus being able to climb up stairs. If you are interested in driving or helping MMOW, send your contact in an email to Brandy at brandy.mmow@gmail.com.
Meals are provided Monday through Friday, 52 weeks a year, with the exceptions of six major holidays and severe snow days. The food is served refrigerated in microwaveable, recyclable containers to be reheated by the recipient at their convenience. The number of recipients is approximately 40 per day, meaning the kitchen staff serve over 9,000 meals per year. The capable kitchen team and on-staff nutritionist ensure a healthy and wholesome meal, consisting of one entrée with two sides, a drink, fruit and a dessert. Meals can be customized, within limits, to accommodate food allergies, diabetes or other food-related requirements. The territory has expanded eastward to include Arrowbear and Green Valley Lake to the east and Cedarpines Park in the west. They also have pre-delivered emergency meals for those days when snow or other conditions may affect delivery routes.
Mountain Meals on Wheels does charge a small amount, $65 a month, for each meal delivered, but they do not receive any federal or governmental grants or funding. They subsidize those in need who cannot afford the program. On their website, donors, who they call “Angels,” may donate to pay for those who cannot afford it. MMOW continues to be one of the most efficient nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organizations on the mountain. For every dollar donated to MMOW, 84 cents goes directly to the cost of meals. MMOW prides itself with keeping their overhead costs low. See their website for those details.
If you or someone you know needs our program because they are unable to get to the market to shop or prepare healthy meals, please discuss it with them and have them apply. There is no age requirement to be eligible for this program. Further information may be found on their website, www.MountainMealsOnWheels.org.
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