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MEALS ON WHEELS:

MORE THAN JUST A MEAL!!!!!!!

For many of our seniors and ill and handicapped neighbors, a friendly visit from a Meals on Wheels volunteer may be their only form of daily contact. Our volunteers feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction knowing that their work makes a tangible difference in the lives of our recipients.

Volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels only takes 1 1/2 hrs., 11:15-12:45.

You decide how often you want to deliver and what days, Mon- Sat.

Jennie Edmundson Hospital's food service prepares our meals. Volunteers go to Jennie Edmundson Hospital to pick up coolers with the meals inside, follow directions on a route sheet, deliver meals to and average of 18 Meals on Wheels recipients who live within the city limits of Council Bluffs, return cooler to the Hospital when route completed. Its that simple. Please call 388-0452 to volunteer today.

Why not: Volunteer.....Donate......Refer A Friend

Meals on Wheels home delivered meals.

For more than 35 years Meals on Wheels has provided a hot nutritious noon meal delivered by dedicated volunteers. Over 4,000 meals are delivered a month to an average of 190 recipients by about 95 regular volunteers and hundreds of volunteers in organizations and businesses.

Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. An additional delivery is available on Saturday, the regular hot meal and a cold picnic lunch for Sunday, for those with more extreme nutritional needs.

Meals are prepared by Jennie Edmundson Hospital under the supervision of a registered dietician with the highest quality foods and home baked items. Milk is available upon request.

Our commitment is to provide service to those who want to remain independent in their own homes with the help of a nutritious meal.

To receive Meals on Wheels, the following criteria should be met by recipients who:

Would likely be admitted to a nursing home or assisted living facility if meals were not available, or
Are recovering following discharge from a hospital or nursing home, or
Are ill or handicapped and unable to prepare meals and have not available assistance with meal preparation, or
Lack the proper nutritional support from spouse, family or caregivers due to burnout, neglect or abuse.
Are age 60 or older ( some meals are available for those under age 60 through a referral from a health care personnell.

Also a Meals on Wheels recipient should :

be willing to admit meal delivery volunteers into their home.
be able to feed themselves or have arrangements for someone to feed them.
agree to complete a registration form, which a copy will be forwarded onto Southwest 8 Senior Services our area office on aging.
be willing to contribute what they are able to afford toward the cost of their meals (the suggested contribution price per hot meal is $6.15)

If you or you know of an individual who lives within the city limits of Council Bluffs who would benefit from receiving Meals on Wheels, Please call 712-388-0452

Meals on Wheels Volunteers honored at American Red Cross Annual Meeting!!!

The American Red Cross Annual Meeting was held on Thursday, June 1, 2006 at the Council Bluffs Country Club.

Each year the Red Cross honors our past years volunteers with various awards.

This years New Star Award was given to Diane Richards. Diane Richards started delivering Meals on Wheels October 2, 2005. She began delivering every other Tuesday.In November, started delivery every Tuesday, and then in December, added every other Wednesday.Well, I was speechless, and thought this lady is going to get burnt out.Not Diane in April 2006, when my other every other Wednesday team stopped delivery she added it to her schedule.So Diane is now delivery MOW every Tuesday and Wednesday. Diane is such a giving person, at Christmas time she gave a poinsettias to each one of her MOW residents, flowers for Valentines Day and at Easter time, she passed out helium balloons with a little stuffed bunny tied to the end.When she delivers, she takes a little time to visit with some of the recipients that are alone all day long. After 20 some years living in Indianapolis, in May 2005, Diane and her family moved back to her native community of Council Bluffs. Diane’s husband of 15 years, George Revtyak is a Cardiologist in Omaha. Diane has 3 step children and as she says “her limit” of dogs and cats. Diane’s hobbies are playing the piano, gardening and of course volunteering. Diane is a very dedicated and caring individual.I am very grateful she found time in her busy life to be a New Star of the American Red Cross and part the Meals on Wheels program.

This years Meals on Wheels Award was given to Dean and Pat Pope. (not pictured)

Dean and Pat began delivering Meals on Wheels in 1998.Last year they delivered 89 times.They have no scheduled day that they deliver, but every Monday at 8:00 they are expecting my call.If they are going to be out of town or have an appointment any given day.They will be so kind as to let me know in advance.Thursdays and Friday, Church groups usually deliver MOW, but a few months out of the year there are none so I call Dean and Pat quiet a bit.Pat always assures me that it is ok to keep calling them because they are more than happy help if available. Once in a while I will be short a volunteer at delivery time and I can call Dean and Pat and they will come running. Pat gave me her cell phone number to make sure I could get a hold of them at times like that.

One day they were in town at delivery time and came over to make sure I didn’t need there help. On most holidays, Pat will bring some sort of baked goods to share with the other volunteers on that day and even takes care of the volunteers who are diabetic.

Dean and Pat will be married for 51 years this summer and have raised 3 children. Dean was a 7 year Navy man and retired from the Rail Road.Pat was and still is a homemaker, enjoying her family and helping out others.

Dean and Pat are great people and always ready to help.I am grateful they find time in their busy lives to be a part of the Meals on Wheels program.

Last Updated: 06/23/2006