Wake County groups work together to give senior citizens a friend and a good meal
Wake County is growing fast and so is the number of senior citizens, a growing number of whom feel alone and forgotten. Two non-profits now work together to help end that sense of isolation, plus provide healthy meals.
Volunteers with Meals on Wheels of Wake County understand that the food they pack and deliver may save lives.
Alan Winstead, executive director of the Wake County Meals on Wheels program explained, "people that we deliver lunches to, Monday-through-Friday, really rely on the food that we’re bringing into their home."
He says this particular day, they delivered about 1,500 lunches. "In one year," he said, "about 410,000 lunches."
Linda Phillips of Raleigh depends on those lunches and she has a few favorites. She said she loves "chicken pot pie with dark meat. And I like fish! It’s good for your system, it’s good for your mind."
Winstead says their mission has always been more than just nutritious meals. Volunteers like Jan Harris provide that human touch with conversation and caring.
"We might be the only person they see that day," said Harris.
They’ve joined with the home care agency Home Instead to help meet the growing need of food and friendship among seniors.
"Some of them have no family, or they have family that aren’t in the area and they can’t stay alone anymore, and that’s where we can come in and help them," said Nancy Foss with the agency.
The U.S. Surgeon General calls loneliness and isolation an epidemic that dramatically impacts older adults and contributes to premature death. Companionship and social interaction at mealtime is important, but Foss says more can be done.
"What we can do is our care pros can go in and help them the rest of the time," Foss explained.
Phillips had another suggestion to help more seniors thrive. She said, "If they get more volunteers, that’s what they need!"
You can help Meals on Wheels through donations or as Phillips said, you can be a volunteer if you are 18 years and older.
