Meals on Wheels celebrates 30th Anniversary
The Friona Meals on Wheels Board of Directors and members gathered Tuesday, April 7 to celebrate a milestone. Meals on Wheels has been serving the nutritional needs of the local area for 30 years.
The Meals on Wheels program was organized by a group of concerned persons as a result of a caring pastor who felt there was a definite need in Friona for such a program.
Meals on Wheels began delivering meals on February 18, 1985. They had four routes and delivered 14 meals per day. The meals were prepared at the Parmer County Hospital.
Meals are still delivered today by volunteer drivers who donate their time and car expense to deliver the meals.
The Board of Directors are Tommie Mercer, President; Raye Jene London, Vice President and flower chairman; Tommie Boeckman, Treasurer; Mary Joyce Barnett, Secretary. Also on the board are Marilyn Stovell, Betty Wiseman, Loraine Anthony, Teena Hughs and LaVelle Lillard.
Mercer announced that LaVelle Lillard and Anna Jo Blackburn are now retired.
In addition to the nutritional value of the program, the daily contact means as much as the food. For many of the people the Meals on Wheels drivers are their only daily contact with the outside world.
Meals on Wheels is much more than a food service. The noon meal enables the elderly to remain in their own homes longer. Volunteers not only bring food but friendship. They also serve as an information and referral source for other community services.
The Board and members are grateful to the United Way for their donation each year that helps the organization financially. Meals on Wheels does not receive any Federal or State funding. Recipients pay for their meals or as much as they are able.
At the present time they are only delivering to one person. If you know of persons who have a special need of food being delivered, you are invited to let the board of directors know of that need.
As they celebrate 30 years of service they are thankful to the Friona Senior Citizens House and the cooks who have helped make this possible. They are also thankful for the volunteers who have faithfully delivered meals for all these years. The volunteer gives their time and a part of themselves, which is the greatest gift anyone can bestow. This type of service cannot be purchased.
It has been said that perhaps the ones who benefit the most of all are those who receive the satisfaction of providing a service, which is so greatly needed and appreciated.
The motto for Meals on Wheels is “Cast me not off in the time of old age. Forsake me not when my strength faileth.” Psalms 71:9.
