Posted 11:16 pm Thursday, October 11, 2012
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Nonprofit celebrates 39 years of wheelin' and mealin'
Like the first Christians recorded in the Bible, volunteers for Meals On Wheels are full of the Holy Spirit, said the Rev. D. Jeff Gage in his speech at the Meals on Wheels Ministry anniversary luncheon on Wednesday.
“Distributing food to those who need it is a Holy Spirit-inspired job and takes an indwelling of the Holy Spirit to serve people when they need it most,” he said. “People who do the boots-on-the-ground work do extraordinary work and they are extraordinary people.”
Meals On Wheels is a national organization with chapters around the country. The Meals On Wheels in Tyler serves six counties in East Texas, providing daily meals to more than 3,000 disabled, low-income seniors to keep them independent in their homes, president and CEO Mike Powell said. Many times, the volunteer who delivers the meal to a senior's home will be the only consistent human interaction they have, Powell said.
This is the 39th anniversary for the organization. In its first year, the organization delivered meals to 30 seniors.
The luncheon was at First Christian Church in Tyler, an appropriate location, board president Dr. Aubrey Sharpe said.
“The Rev. Richard Ziglar, who was pastor at the time, served as president on the first board of directors, and the very first meal was served by one of its members, Mrs. Hershel Sobol,” he said.
“Distributing food to those who need it is a Holy Spirit-inspired job and takes an indwelling of the Holy Spirit to serve people when they need it most,” he said. “People who do the boots-on-the-ground work do extraordinary work and they are extraordinary people.”
Meals On Wheels is a national organization with chapters around the country. The Meals On Wheels in Tyler serves six counties in East Texas, providing daily meals to more than 3,000 disabled, low-income seniors to keep them independent in their homes, president and CEO Mike Powell said. Many times, the volunteer who delivers the meal to a senior's home will be the only consistent human interaction they have, Powell said.
This is the 39th anniversary for the organization. In its first year, the organization delivered meals to 30 seniors.
The luncheon was at First Christian Church in Tyler, an appropriate location, board president Dr. Aubrey Sharpe said.
“The Rev. Richard Ziglar, who was pastor at the time, served as president on the first board of directors, and the very first meal was served by one of its members, Mrs. Hershel Sobol,” he said.
This year, Texas ranks as the fourth state in the nation with the highest numbers of hungry seniors, according to the event program. More than 8 million seniors across the U.S. face hunger and malnutrition, and the highest concentrations are in rural areas like the ones served in East Texas. Over the past decade, the organization has faced exponential growth among the number of clients eligible for services and more than $330,000 state and federal budget cuts.
Volunteers are a major part of why the organization can serve as many clients as it does, Powell said, and the organization recognized Roger and Iris Daughtry with the Volunteer of the Year award.
Hugh Denson also was recognized for his long-time service as a volunteer and board member.
Volunteers are a major part of why the organization can serve as many clients as it does, Powell said, and the organization recognized Roger and Iris Daughtry with the Volunteer of the Year award.
Hugh Denson also was recognized for his long-time service as a volunteer and board member.
