Mid-Cumberland Meals-on-Wheels is making an appeal for volunteers to help with their efforts to provide meals to seniors in Montgomery and surrounding counties.
Community Engagement Director Sharon McDaniel said Meals-on-Wheels serves lunch to homebound and disabled seniors in 12 counties in Middle Tennessee from 17 meal sites.
“The meals are healthy,” McDaniel said. “They provide one-third of the daily required intake; they are two vegetables, meat, bread, desert and milk. It is prepared low sodium, and it’s a meal that is carbohydrate and protein based.”
But to keep doing this important work, the program needs help, with openings for about 50 new volunteers in the Clarksville area.
“We are in just dire, dire, need of volunteers. I hope you can join our family and bring some smiles to our seniors. Often our seniors say their volunteer is their best friend,” McDaniel said.
Volunteers are often the only person a homebound senior may see during the day. A volunteer can also offer a daily well being check on seniors who live alone with no support system. Many times, a volunteer visit is anticipated by the senior almost as much as receiving the meal.
McDaniel said they lost many volunteers during COVID, which is understandable. Some have returned, but with inflation and higher gas prices, she said she has never seen the volunteer shortage this bad.
Volunteers are needed to deliver meals Monday through Friday.
To learn more about how you can support Meals-on-Wheels as a volunteer or with a donation, visit mc-mealsonwheels.com. You can also email Sharon McDaniel at smcdaniel@mchra.com.