Meals On Wheels Honors Its Volunteers

Newtown Meals on Wheels held a reception to honor its 133 volunteers on Wednesday, May 9, in the Trinity Church undercroft.

During the past year the volunteers delivered 6,589 meals to 49 homebound elderly, handicapped, or temporarily incapacitated persons. Recipients paid $2.50 each for the meals, which cost MOW $3.78 each; the shortfall is made up through donations from such groups as the Newtown Woman’s Club, the Newtown Lions, the Newtown Congregational Church, Taunton Press, and many individuals.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal praised the volunteers, saying that they bring more than food to the recipients. “You bring more than food to these shut-ins. You bring a few kind words, a smile, and special good cheer,” he said.

Mr Rosenthal said that volunteer service is the core of the community. “Most of the jobs that get done in this town get done by volunteers like you,” he explained.

He commended Ashlar of Newtown for preparing the meals and for its other services to the community. Ashlar President Thomas Gutnar congratulated the volunteers and said the skilled nursing facility was pleased to be part of the relationship for the service that MOW provides. Helen Howell, director of food service at Ashlar, praised “the little people” – the Brownies and Cub Scouts and other children – who make small gifts to be delivered with the meals for the many holidays during the year.

Dolores Judge and Janet Hovious are co-presidents of Meals on Wheels. Mrs Judge noted that this year the meal service was upgraded by adding soup to the menu and expanding the substitution selection.

“Meals on Wheels is a 100 percent volunteer organization. No one is paid, and there is no state or federal funding,” said Peg Forbell, MOW treasurer.

 Mrs Forbell was presented with an award for serving as a MOW volunteer for 25 years. “Bravo” awards were presented to Colleen Honan, driver coordinator, and Bobbe Bowles, publicity, for their years of service. Other awards included Ingrid Meier, Ed Forbell, Ken and Pat Stroud, and Ken Wilkinson, 15 years; Ellyn Gehrett, 10 years; and five-year volunteers Laura Hewitt, Margaret Aitchison, Lynn Bassett, Della Macauley, Marg Studley, Katie Moser, Sheila Cole, and Barbara Webb.

Five more volunteer drivers are needed to drive one day each month. Drivers pick up meals at 11:35 am and deliver them, then return the empty coolers to Ashlar. Deliveries take about an hour. To volunteer, or for more information, call Colleen Honan at 426-0714.