Published in the Westchester Guardian, July 2015
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Mother Theresa.
“I have no family nor support group, so I must be as self-reliant as I can to avoid institutionalization. MOW (Meals-on-Wheels) fills a critical need by providing me nutritious meals. The volunteers are caring, concerned Samaritans whom I count as good friends and I await their cheerful daily visits.” Anonymous Recipient (Both quotes from MOW brochures.)
Every morning, seven days a week, without fanfare, a small group of dedicated volunteers, quietly and unheralded deliver hot lunches to our homebound men and women of New Rochelle.
The Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) of New Rochelle “client census has remained relatively constant over the last few years averaging about forty-five on weekdays and twenty-five on weekends.” Volunteers, using their own cars, number from fifty to sixty per week, each basically covering a specific day and clientele. The cost of a hot lunch is $4, an optional cold sandwich delivered concurrently, for a meal later in the evening cost $1.80. No one is ever turned away and fees can be based on a sliding scale. But what they really deliver is not sustenance of food but the sustenance of neighborly love and companionship. For a few precious moments the company of others eases the daily pains life offers. Most are widows or widowers. Unfortunately, for the last few years they have run at a decreasing monetary deficit. (All quotes by Executive Director, Office of the Aging, City of New Rochelle, Ms. Phillis Maucieri, unless stated otherwise.)
The day begins just before 11am with the pick-up of meals prepared at Montefiore Hospital, New Rochelle. Each volunteer gathers his or her stack of trays of specific meals for specific clients. Using their own vehicles, gas and unreimbursed mileage, they are greeted cheerfully, graciously and gratefully. The most difficult part of delivering this generosity is saying good bye, as time, the greatest restraint of all our human endeavors inflicts itself in our physical plane of life. However, the good, sharp-eyed experience of the volunteer, within this limited space of compliance, observes this limited world of the sometimes neglected recipient. They talk, discuss family relations, events in their lives. “Most important, the volunteers note the client’s well-being and promptly report any change to the MOW office who will notify appropriate parties.”
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Meals-on-Wheels. Without them, there is no MOW. “They are a link in the chain between MOW and other services and organizations, reporting issues to MOW supervisors who then report to the appropriate agencies, family members and even 911.” They are the eyes and ears, the first line of defense, when someone is not functioning correctly. Services are provided 24/7. Only three days have been missed this winter of 2014/15 due to inclement weather.
The extended family living under one roof is rare in our society due to a sometimes cruel economic system where housing for large families are not economically applicable. The lives of current generations, through no fault of their own, find themselves unable to assist older and/or disabled family members. Events just seem to occur that physical distance, as well as economic and social constraints detach ourselves from others.
Forty individuals served daily in a city the size of New Rochelle certainly does not seen like a large number, but, “for over 30 years (since 1983) the volunteers of Meals-on-Wheels of New Rochelle have delivered more than 300,000 hot nutritious meals to our neighbors.” Now that is an impact that should not go unnoticed nor unappreciated by the general citizenry.
Every meal is prepared by the professional dietitians of Montefiore Hospital, bounded by the dietary needs of the individual client. “Applicants for the programs should be homebound. Referrals come from local hospitals, institutions, etc. Today, the basic age of the patron is between sixty and ninety-five. All doctors, social workers, case managers, etc., are also made aware of the services MOW are providing. Services are available to all New Rochelle residents regardless of age or income who are confined to their homes and are not able to obtain adequate meals for themselves as a result of illness, physical handicap, or disability.”
Ms. Maucieri states, “the average nursing home stay is approximately $91,000 annually. Cuts in Medicare and Medicaid are contributing to the rising costs, and reduction in the number of long-term nursing home beds. When asked, most seniors would prefer to live in their own homes with innumerable family mementoes. There really is no substitute for someone staying safely in their own home environment. Financially, emotionally, community wise, there is currently no greater substitute for this care. As a truly independent service, little aid is received by MOW from the government.”
“Meals on Wheels originated in the United Kingdom during The Blitz, when many people lost their homes and therefore the ability to cook their own food. The concept of delivering meals to those unable to prepare their own evolved into the modern programs that deliver mostly to the housebound elderly for free or with donations.” “The first NYS program began in Rochester in 1958.” Wikipedia.
The Financial Aspect: As a Not-for-Profit organization, they file a publically available 990EZ. For the past few years they recorded deficits that have been given attention to and therefore are decreasing annually. Their major expense is for two part-time salary positions overseeing all meal distributions, bookkeeping functions, insurance concerns, contacting agencies, families, etc. There are three major sources of revenue, respectively 2012 and 2013:
Contributions, gifts, grants: $30,781, $38,741.
Program Service revenue: $40,776, $33,205.
Fund Raising Fall Gala, net of expense: $25,324, $25,137.
(Mary: Eliminate this data and display category only?)
The Human Aspect: The following is an excerpt from a client’s niece about volunteer, Mr. Ken Rinck: “He (Kenny Rinck) has been especially friendly taking time to share about himself and his family with my Aunt. Aunt “D” has always been extremely independent and self-sufficient and is now facing blindness accompanied by hearing loss. Kenny’s friendliness and compassion have certainly been a blessing and given my Aunt a ray of sunshine in her otherwise darkened world. Thank you for your ministry of Meals-on-Wheels.”
Ken joined MOW about 14 years ago. “After retiring, I looked for something I could do, locally, in the community. I seem to get more out of it (serving) than what the patrons receive. Just what the Bible says, ‘The more you give, the more you get.’ Some of our clients are fun to be around. The training was basic and not very difficult as you do a few drive-alongs with another experienced worker.”
Mr. Tony Smith, another volunteer delivering meals, “became involved with Meals on Wheels through our Church. If my memory serves me correctly, I read in the weekly church bulletin that they needed people to help deliver meals. I called their office and told them that I would help them just this one time. I enjoyed the experience so much that I have been working in the field with the program going on 5 years. Simply put, I get a sense of fulfillment from delivering meals to their clients. I enjoy doing it and I am thankful that God has blessed me and my family so that I am able to do it. Every client that I’ve delivered to has expressed their gratitude and some even give treats every week.”
Ms. Patricia Showers, MOW Executive Director, “When my last child went off to middle school and thus no longer came home for lunch, I began searching for a community-oriented projects and, serendipitously, MOW of New Rochelle was searching for a part-time Coordinator. We clicked! Lorraine Clesse, MOW Asst. Director, and I get much the same satisfaction from our daily interaction with our homebound clients as do the volunteers –visiting, comforting, arranging for meals and trying to accommodate preferences – and foibles!…as well as intervening in emergencies. It is very gratifying to be able to ease some of the anxieties in the lives of our frail elderly neighbors.”
“They are in the planning stages for their annual Fall Gala. Honorees are Charles Fazzino, International Artist; Sebastian Aliberti & Anthony Russo, Owners Modern Restaurant; Karenann Carty, Vice President of Academics at Monroe College; and Anthony Alfano, Vice President/Executive Director, Montefiore, New Rochelle Hospital. Meals-on-Wheels of New Rochelle Inc. can be reached at 50 Pintard Avenue, NR, NY 10801. Or call (914) 576.3865. Web-site: www.mowofnr.org. Volunteers, donations and beneficiaries of their great services/ministry are always wanted.”
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Glenn Slaby Blog