When it Comes to Meals, San Gabriel Valley Volunteers Deliver

Loretta Searls, an "Angel on Wheels" to her clients, has delivered meals for the past 17 years.

Written by Alayna Patterson, Redcross.org

The San Gabriel Valley (CA) Chapter of the American Red Cross is one of many chapters that provide meals to homebound clients. Unlike many, it has provided this service for the past quarter century, serving around 36,000 meals every year. And although 25 years of service is certainly noteworthy, what really makes this chapter special is its volunteers.

The San Gabriel Valley Chapter is privileged to have nearly 120 devoted volunteers using their own vehicles to deliver meals to clients in need. With such generous individuals, it's not surprising that the chapter has several outstanding persons who give of their time and resources for the sake of helping others. One such person is Loretta Searls, or as her clients call her, "Angel on Wheels." Searls has made a point of caring for her clients, whether it's striking up a conversation or just checking in to see how someone's feeling. "Once you start delivering, it becomes a part of your life," said Searls. "And [clients] appreciate it so much and just love a few minutes to talk with somebody."

Having a volunteer reach out shows others how they can help, too. Bon Wells's mother was a Meals on Wheels recipient who was unable to cook for herself. The program enabled her to remain in her home and maintain a sense of independence. In 1999, Bon Wells joined the San Gabriel Valley Chapter as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.

"My volunteering is partly based on what the program did for my mother. Now it's payback time for me."

Bon delivers meals with his wife, Barbara. "You can do it yourself," admits Barbara, "but we enjoy doing it together. He drives and I deliver."

Local businesses and organizations also further the reach of the Meals on Wheels program and its volunteers, providing everything from weekly gifts of flowers to monetary donations. The Rain Bird Corporation of Glendora, CA, for example, has provided between four and eight employees to deliver meals each day during their lunch hour and has continued to do so for over a decade.

Victoria Mena, program generalist at the chapter, comments on volunteers' devotion: "It's a labor of love to be involved in this program. I lost my grandparents many years ago and the volunteers and the recipients are like an extended family. It's a joy to work with the dedicated volunteers and if it were not for them, we could not offer this program to our communities. If we ask them, 'Can you drop everything?' they will. Now that's dedication!"

If you would like to learn more about this program or become a Meals on Wheels volunteer for this chapter, please contact either Cynthia Deville at deville@sgvarc.org or Victoria Mena at mena@sgvarc.org.

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