Meals on Wheels served up plenty of fun and a lot of gratitude last Thursday evening, Oct. 10, at the Knights of Columbus in downtown Seymour to celebrate serving hot reduced meals to those in need for 50 years.
Seymour Meals on Wheels was incorporated in 1974, providing meals to residents within a 5-mile radius of downtown with service either short or long-term.
The standalone nonprofit agency serves all qualified area residents who are unable to provide themselves with basic daily diet because of age, health or ability.
The meals are prepared onsite at Schneck Medical Center. The meals are not, however, just for the elderly, but for anyone who is homebound.
“It’s exciting to be in a position to kick off another 50 years,” said board president Jane Norman. “We have a lot of people who have been delivering for 30 or more years so it’s nice to honor that as well.”
The organization recently added a fourth route, which Norman said is jam-packed already.
“This is about celebrating our many years of service, but also to get our name out there,” she said. “Remind people that we exist and that we need support.”
Volunteers pick up meals between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. at Schneck each weekday and on major holidays. Each route has 10 stops each.
Drivers are given a notebook containing all needed information, from the customer’s name and address to what to do upon arrival.
Two misconceptions are often that it’s just a senior citizens organization and an organizational part of Schneck.
Board member Sue Smith has been volunteering with the nonprofit for five years saying her experience has been all positive.
“When I go to deliver meals it’s like visiting with friends,” she said. “It’s a great thing to help these people who need it.”
Jackson County Republican Party Chairwoman Amanda Lowery stopped by to learn more about the organization and bid on the various silent auction items.
Lowery said a group she is a part of, formerly known as Jackson County 50 Chicks, would donate to an organization quarterly and Meals on Wheels has been one of those.
“We are now called “ladies who lunch” and we recently had a meeting at Lola’s Modern Kitchen,” she said. “Someone pitched that we donate to Meals on Wheels this quarter.”
As membership director for the Jackson County Chamber, Lowery said she used Meals on Wheels services over a month ago for her mom who was recovering from a cracked pelvis.
“It gave me such peace of mind,” she said. “They provide great nutritious meals that I think she enjoyed.”
Sehrish Sangamkar also stopped in to learn more about the organization and donate items to the silent auction.
“I can’t believe I didn’t know we had a Meals on Wheels in Seymour,” she said. “I love their mission and my parents are homebound in Michigan, and I wish they lived here. I’ve told so many people about it since I have learned about it.”
Sangamkar said she will be having foot surgery in the future and is considering using the service for aid.
The nonprofit pays the nutritional services department at Schneck to prepare the meals, then provide those meals to clients for a charge that is at or below cost depending on monetary contributions and other entities, such as grants.
Meals are currently provided for a cost of $4.50 for a hot meal and $7.50 for both a hot and cold meal.
The night carried on with community members stocking up on sweet treats from the homemade bake sale, music by the Cherry’s and Christina & Klarc Duo and lots of fellowship to commemorate the day.