Photo By Capt. Amber Kelly-Herard | Staff Sgt. Joseph Herard, 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management and...... read more read more
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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - A simple meal may not seem like a lot to some, but for senior citizens who participate in the Meals on Wheels program it is.
Within St. Clair and Madison Counties, about 500 meals are delivered to the elderly through the program.
About 95 of those meals are delivered by volunteers from Scott Air Force Base.
"I don't know what we'd do without Scott Air Force Base," said Judy Denning, Meals on Wheels site manager. "They are our main group of volunteers, so we couldn't do it without them."
Participants of the Meals on Wheels program are identified through the Visiting Nurse Association.
"Elderly people over 60 who are considered homebound are eligible," said Denning, who has been with the program for 10 years. "It is a donation program, so those who can afford it can donate, but we never turn anyone away, even if they can't donate."
Through the program, one meal consisting of hot food, milk, bread and dessert, is delivered Monday through Friday.
"For some of them, this is the only hot meal they get, because they live alone and don't have family," said Denning.
Besides delivering food, volunteers have the opportunity to bring a little more.
"A lot of the elderly people are former military so they like talking to people from Scott," said Denning. "Some of them just want someone to talk to because you may be the only person they see all day."
The Meals on Wheels program is always seeking volunteers. To volunteer, three people are required: one driver and two deliverers. The route starts between 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and lasts about two hours.
"I love it. It's a good way to give back to people who can't get out to get their own meals," said Master Sgt. T'Erricka Rush, Air Mobility Command Historian executive assistant. "When I do it, I take time to ask them, 'How are you doing?' because I know they don't have visitors."
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Denning at 334-6575.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2012 17:06 |
| Story ID: | 84831 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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