Meals on Wheels Volunteers Reach Out to Iowa Community

Written by Christina Ward, Staff Writer, RedCross.org

February 12, 2002 — Karen McPartland, a longtime volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Council Bluffs, Iowa, delivers hot midday meals to homebound residents every Tuesday from 11:30 to 1:00. After picking up the meals from the food service department at Jennie Edmundson Hospital — where they have been prepared under the supervision of a clinical dietician — she drives home-to-home, making deliveries. Although it might seem small, this weekly act touches the lives of many people.

Osa is just one elderly resident who eagerly awaits her Tuesday visitor. "Karen is a gem! On Christmas, she showed up at my door with a gift. That meant so much to me," Osa said. "These people who give their time and come to your home are so kind."

Osa said she plans to "give back" to her friend with a special gift this spring. Over the years of delivering meals, Karen has often admired a purple flowering bush in Osa's home. Osa wants to give the plant to Karen for transplanting in her own yard, as a lasting symbol of their friendship.

Homebound residents of Council Bluffs, Iowa, have had access to Meals on Wheels since 1969. Only recently, however — in May 2001 — did the program become a part of the local Loess Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross. Under the leadership of Michele Stephens, the Meals on Wheels director at the chapter, volunteers now serve more than 50,000 meals every year.

The Johnson family is a multi-generational volunteer team for Meals on Wheels.

Stephens said that Karen McPartland is just one of the many generous individuals who make the program a success. "The philosophy of our program is 'neighbor helping neighbor,'" Stephens explained. "There is a strong element of pride that the program belongs to the community. The effort, dedication and reliability of our volunteers makes coming to work a joy for me."

Meals are delivered Monday through Saturday, with an extra meal for Sunday delivered the day before. Each noon meal consists of a meat or fish, two vegetables, bread, salad and dessert. A sack dinner is available for delivery at the same time. Any homebound person who needs help in meeting daily nutritional needs is eligible for the program, which costs $2.70 per hot meal and $1.30 per sack dinner. Food stamps are accepted, and funding assistance is also available. "No one is turned down due to inability to pay," Stephens emphasized.

The program remains low-cost because of the hours of work put in by local volunteers. For many area participants, the project has become a family affair.

The Johnson family is one such devoted group. Three generations of Johnsons have been part of the Meals on Wheels delivery network. Susan Johnson remembers when her father began volunteering in 1970 — and how quickly the whole family joined in.

"It makes us feel good," Johnson said. "Volunteering for Meals on Wheels is a family tradition for us—we hope others will give it a try. The people you meet will make you feel good, and perhaps you can do the same for them."

The Red Cross often works with other local organizations — such as the Girl Scouts — on community service projects.

Another volunteer, Lisa Sorenson, travels 30 miles to deliver meals. She recruited her mother and sister to join, and she also brings her young daughter Hannah along for many deliveries. Over time, Hannah has become a popular visitor among the recipients on Sorenson's delivery route — particularly during the holidays, when the little girl dresses up in special outfits. The result is often a kind of role reversal: When Hannah and her mother arrive at the door, the Meals on Wheels recipients present cookies and candy to them.

Hannah isn't the only youth volunteer. Several local Girl Scout troops made craft items including ornaments, placemats, cards, doilies and snowmen table decorations that were delivered with the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals. The Loess Hills Red Cross chapter is looking forward to a continued relationship with the Girl Scouts, and plans are already underway to deliver Valentine's Day cards to Meals on Wheels clients.

Stephens said the stories of volunteers' dedication never stop coming in. "Without our volunteer 'heroes,' we could not have a Meals on Wheels program in our town," she said. "They are an honor to our community, and a lifeline for our recipients."

Council Bluffs, Iowa, is just one town with successful American Red Cross programs in the community. Click here for more Red Cross Community Services news and information.