Date: Fri 23-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Meals-on-Wheels-volunteers

Full Text:

with story: Meals On Wheels Honors Volunteers

Ninety Newtown Meals on Wheels drivers and other volunteers were honored at

the annual appreciation luncheon Tuesday morning in the undercroft of Trinity

Church.

Last year, MOW volunteers delivered 5,036 meals to 46 recipients, 300 more

meals than in 1995. The volunteers generally donate an hour or two once a

month to deliver meals to five or more housebound elderly or disabled persons.

Joan O'Neill received an award for 10 years of service as a volunteer driver.

Three Bravo Awards were announced. Elsie Bawden received a Bravo award for

being a driver-caller for more than 20 years. Margaret and Hawley Warner, who

delivered meals for more than 15 years, and Jo Molnar also are recipients of

the Bravo awards. Special awards also were given to Peg Forbell and to Nancy

Larin.

Eighteen people and an organization, Women Involved In Newtown, received

five-year driver awards: Delores Lussier, Helen Herbold, Ann Lynch, JoAnne

Maurer, Karen Bulwidas, Linda Walker, Darlene Jackson, Julie Stern, Susan

Heithaus, Art Gorton, Carina Prokai, Claire Savarese, Judy Rosentel, Margo

Lopez-Cepero, Nancy Rowe, Ronnie Loughlin, Carol Garbarino, Anna Wiedemann.

First Selectman Bob Cascella addressed the volunteers at the appreciation

event, speaking about the importance of volunteering.

"We are our community," he said. "We get out of volunteering what we put in."

Ashlar of Newtown, which prepares the meals for MOW, provided the refreshments

for the event. Elyse Dent is the food service manager at Ashlar; Helen Howell

is in charge of MOW food preparation.

Ken Wilkinson, MOW recipient coordinator, said that as of February 17 there

were four routes and a total of 28 recipients.

Other officers include Ellyn Gehert, secretary; Shirley Lawrenson, treasurer;

Marily Alexander and Janet Hovious, recipient interviewers; Colleen Honan,

driver coordinator; and Bobbe Bowles, publicity.

Occasional volunteer drivers still are needed for routes during those months

which have a fifth week. For information about becoming a volunteer driver,

call Rebecca Smith at 426-3913.