“We provide hot nutritious meals to the elderly, homebound, and people that are disabled in our community,” said Coon Rapids-Blaine Meals on Wheels administrator Bridget Platt. “It really enables people to be able to stay in their homes rather than go to long term care facilities”
For a non-profit to function at a high level, there needs to be volunteers, and John Haley is one of them. He will make sure to cover routes rain, snow, or even on his own birthday.
“Seeing the smile on the people’s faces when you bring them a meal. They’re so excited a lot of times to see somebody, because a lot of the folks are a alone a lot, so it’s good to see them and be able to talk to them a little bit and just be their for them. Give them something, give them a meal,” said Haley.
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“They are always happy to get a nice warm meal and everything. It’s good to see somebody, a lot of them are isolated but you check on them, ask how things are going, and if their is some issues you can always bring those back here and let them know here so they can look into it,” said Haley.
“I’m happy with the people that deliver their very nice, you get to know them, then they start talking more and it’s like meeting new friends,” said client Adeline Watson.
Platt began her career as a volunteer for the Coon Rapids/Blaine Meals on Wheels as a volunteer and found out how important a program like this is.
“I have a real heart for seniors so I started when my kids were little, I started volunteering,” said Platt. “I volunteered at nursing homes and then I came and volunteered for Meals on Wheels for about three years before I started [working here]. So I brought my kids along with me. We got to know people that were on my route, we had the same route every time. Their is just a lot of lonely people out there, people that maybe don’t have family around. We even got to know one gentleman that was pretty much alone in the world, he was in his 90s, he came to our house for Thanksgiving for a few years before he passed away and so what got me started was just my heart for seniors.”
Meals on Wheels isn’t only about the nutritious meals; social interactions and checking in on the health of the clients is a major priority. One in six seniors in America face the threat of hunger while 1 in 4 live in isolation. That daily checkup is just as much about safety and friendly interactions as it is the food.
“The unique thing about Meals on Wheels too is not only do we provide hot nutritious meals, but we also provide a daily check in. We live in an age where a lot of seniors are isolated. Family members that maybe live out of town or are just working full time or maybe they don’t even have family, so this is a great service to be able to check on them, provide a friendly face, and just be their as someone who is checking in on them on a daily basis,” said Platt.
The hard work put in behind the scenes by many volunteers translates to a successful program that has existed in some form in the Twin Cites for over 40 years.
“They give you the food you really should be eating instead of snacking like I always did so I think that’s great. It’s a good thing,” said Watson.
During the holiday season it is especially important to give back and volunteering for Meals on Wheels is a helpful way to do so.
“It’s a great ministry, a great thing to get involved in, and I’d urge anybody if they have the time to certainly get involved in this or anything that gives back to the community” said Haley.
More information on the Coon-Rapids Blaine Meals on Wheels, how to volunteer, and how to sign up someone in need can be found here.
