Meals on Wheels in need of volunteers

By Rebecca J. Barnabi
For Augusta Absolutely free Push

WAYNESBORO — The foods are prepped and completely ready to go. Senior customers of the community are ready at residence for the meals and the company they will convey.

But, Foods on Wheels can’t go any where with no the assist of volunteers.

“Our Meals on Wheels software supplies wholesome meals to home-bound seniors in the community,” explained Janice Gentry, Valley Program for Growing old Services’ Director of Senior Products and services for Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro.

VPAS serves meals to 150 seniors in the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, and approximately 70 in the county. Seniors dwelling in the county receive 20 frozen meals a month. Seniors in the towns receive contemporary foods on Mondays and Wednesdays.

VPAS wants volunteers keen to deliver meals throughout the day on Mondays and Wednesdays. In accordance to Gentry, it is demanding to uncover volunteers during the weekday and the system needs as several as it can get. Meals shipped on Mondays are to be eaten by seniors on Mondays and Tuesdays. And the Wednesday deliveries carry foods for Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but VPAS would like to develop the system.

“So we’ve bought some developing to do,” Gentry claimed.

Meals on Wheels has 11 routes, and volunteers are inspired to go out in pairs so that a single can drive the car or truck, and the other volunteer produce the food. Gentry explained volunteers who can provide on a scheduled basis are appreciated, but any person out there during the working day is welcome to volunteer. Foods are picked up involving 10:30 and 11 a.m., routes choose about an hour to run and the volunteers are requested to return baggage to VPAS in Waynesboro.

Ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gentry said the software delivered meals four times a 7 days.

“We’ve truly struggled with locating volunteers to occur again on board,” she explained.

Nevertheless, the program present a lot more than just foodstuff for seniors.

“It’s also a resource of interaction, socialization with the persons who are getting the foods,” Gentry mentioned.

And the plan offers a subtle opportunity for the local community to security verify its senior users, “and know that the group is hunting out for them.”

“That’s truly the part we’re attempting to get re-released.”

Dean and Judy Obaugh of Waynesboro have volunteered for the method for a year and a 50 percent. Every other Monday they deliver foods to 8 to 10 seniors in Waynesboro. Dean Obaugh volunteered for the plan for 25 several years in Richmond ahead of the pair married and moved to Waynesboro.

“My spouse has always been a volunteer his full life,” Judy Obaugh mentioned.

When she was on the lookout for a way to volunteer in Waynesboro, Dean prompt Foods on Wheels.

“And I was on board with it,” she claimed. “I appreciate supporting these folks and I also really like meeting them and chatting with them every week.”

Judy stated she and her husband get to know the seniors like they are family members. A number of have moved absent and the few misses them.

“I think it’s definitely gratifying personally to do a thing like [volunteering for Meals on Wheels],” she mentioned, specifically to volunteer for senior customers of the local community, “and to give back again to your community.”

If you would like to volunteer for Meals on Wheels, please call VPAS Meals Coordinator Jennifer Grant at 540-942-1838 or e-mail [email protected].

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