Volunteers Honored

 At Breakfast

By Nancy K. Crevier

Nearly 50 Newtown Meals on Wheels (MOW) volunteers were honored at the annual Thank You Breakfast held in the undercroft of Trinity Episcopal Church on Wednesday morning, May 7, feasting on delicious pastries and breakfast foods and sipping piping hot coffee supplied by Ashlar of Newtown. MOW co-presidents Pat Barrett and Marg Studley congratulated the volunteers for their service to those residents unable to prepare meals, and who rely on the lunches delivered to their homes by MOW volunteers.

The first meeting of Newtown Meals On Wheels was held in the old courtroom of Edmond Town Hall in 1969. Newtown Meals On Wheels continues to be is an all-volunteer service, unlike the Meals On Wheels services in other communities that may provide a stipend to drivers. Newtown volunteers pay for their own gas and give of their own time. The local MOW is an independent organization that does not depend on any federal, state, or local funding. Because Newtown Meals On Wheels is not restricted by government regulations, nor is it affected by budget cuts, the organization is able to service people of all ages, for any reason they deem appropriate, for a short period of time or even over a period of years.

Newtown Meals On Wheels is funded completely through donations, endowments, and the support of other local organizations. Recipients are charged only $3 for each hot meal delivered to cover the cost of the unprepared food. Meals are prepared at Ashlar of Newtown each day, where they are picked up by the volunteer drivers and delivered within the hour to recipients.

Without the support of the many volunteers, said Ms Barrett, the program would not be able to be as successful as it has been over the years.

Recognized at the breakfast for 20 years of service driving for Newtown MOW were Martie Williams, Ed Fansher, Ann Kirk, and Bill and Jeanne Honan. Marilyn Alexander received a plaque for 25 years of service with Newtown MOW.

Ashlar of Newtown has been facilitating meals for the local organization since 1993, said Colleen Honan, driver coordinator for Newtown MOW, and in recognition of that support, and in celebration of Ashlar’s 25th anniversary this year, the group presented Tom Gutner, president of Ashlar, with a special plaque honoring the Toddy Hill Road health care facility.

“Ashlar and Meals On Wheels feel the same way about each other,” said Mr Gutner, in accepting the plaque. “We appreciate all that [the volunteers] do for others in making a difference in other people’s lives, without outside support from government agencies. It is our privilege to partner with you.”