Meals On Wheels Honors Its Volunteers

By Kaaren Valenta

Newtown Meals On Wheels honored its more than 100 volunteer drivers at an annual appreciation coffee May 10 in the undercroft of Trinity Church.

Last year the volunteers delivered 4,673 meals to 39 recipients, down slightly from the previous year.

MOW is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization that was formed 30 years ago in Newtown to deliver meals to persons who are housebound, including elderly persons who live alone and younger persons who are temporarily incapacitated.

During the appreciation coffee, Bobbe Bowles was recognized for 25 years of volunteer service; Gretchen Bauta for 20, and Joan Tynan for 15.

Ten-year awards were announced for Elaine Borrelli, Lynn Atkinson, and Nancy Kennedy.

Marge Eldridge, Scott Wolfman, Greg Bura, Patty O’Bryne, and Lucille LaPerch reached the five-year mark.

Meaghan Faul, former food service director at Ashlar of Newtown, was named as the winner of the Bravo-Berthe Melville Award for extra commitment and effort to assist the meal service. Ashlar, a skilled nursing facility on Toddy Hill Road, prepares the meals for MOW. Ms Faul recently moved out of state and was unable to accept the award in person.

Recipients pay $2.50 each for the meals that are delivered each weekday at noon from Ashlar to their homes. The unit cost for the meals is $4.96 but MOW covers the difference through donations received each year from organizations, churches, and individuals. Last year donations were received from the Goodrich Helping Hands Fund, the Newtown Woman’s Club GFWC, the Newtown Lions, and the Newtown Congregational Church.

“Meals On Wheels is a great example of volunteerism,” said Ashlar President Tom Gutnar in remarks at the appreciation coffee. “You reach out and serve people in need. Congratulations for the service you provide, and know that Ashlar of Newtown will continue to support Meals On Wheels.”

MOW officers include Patricia Barrett and Marg Studley, co-presidents; Lynn Buttner, vice president; Peg Forbell, treasurer; Dolores Judge, secretary, and Joan Tynan, corresponding secretary.

Marilyn Alexander and Janet Hovious are the recipient interviewers; Dolores Judge and Ellyn Gehrett are the recipient coordinators; Colleen Honan is the driver coordinator.

Ms Honan said MOW is always in need of drivers, as substitutes or to take over routes, usually a commitment of about an hour one day each month. Volunteers pick up the meals at Ashlar and deliver them to the homebound persons.

“Sometimes the Meals On Wheels volunteer is the only person that the recipient may see that day,” Ms Honan said.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering should call Ms Honan at 426-0714. Inquiries about receiving meals should be made to Marilyn Alexander, 426-6340, or Janet Hovious, 426-1960.