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Meals on Wheels volunteers needed

TYLER (KYTX) - More than 3,000 East Texans rely on Meals on Wheels, but a tight economy is making it tough for the organization. CBS 19's Amanda Roberson explains the economic challenges facing Meals on Wheels and how the organization plans on combating a smaller budget.

Meals on Wheels is asking for more volunteers. The organization has lost more than $330,000 over the last two years because of state and federal funding cuts. That means about 230 Meals on Wheels clients would go without. As the number East Texans needing a warm meal grows, so does the need for volunteers.

"Everyone deserves a meal. They all have different reasons," explained Meals on Wheels volunteer Mark Kempf. He's been a volunteer for six years. "I love it. I love putting a smile on other peoples faces."

After loading up 13 fajita dinners and milk into his car, it's off to deliver the meals to people like Robert Dewberry.

Robert and his wife, Annie, have relied on Meals on Wheels for 11 years. Robert spends most of his day taking care of his wife who suffered a severe stroke in 2000, and said the warm meal has endless benefits.

"One meal at least I don't have to prepare because my health is whatnot and sometimes I don't feel like doing it, and it's a meal I don't have to pay out of my pocket," Dewberry explained. 

"People need to eat all the time, doesn't matter what time of year it is." Despite a slight rise in volunteers over the holidays, Meals on Wheels Executive Director Mike Powell said volunteers serving year round means they can feed more East Texans. "Last year we had over 70,000 hours of donated time which is the equivalent of saving our agency $600,000 $700,000, so obviously that's a tremendous number of extra meals we can serve each day."

It's time people like the dewberry's rely on and appreciate. "It's a great thing to do, to help Meals on Wheels because I count it to be a great ministry from the Lord."

But for Kempf, it's simply a way to give back. "Easily I could have been just as messed up as the one person I'm delivering a meal to so, there before the grace of God go I."

Volunteers typically give about an hour and a half from start to finish. The meals and directions are at the Meals on Wheels center in Tyler when volunteers arrive. All people need to bring is a car with a tank full of gas.

Meals on Wheels said a lot of people are under the impression that when they commit to volunteer they're committing to do it every day or once a week, but the organization said they will accommodate anyone's availability, even if it's once a month.

Meals on Wheels serves people living Smith, Van Zandt, Henderson, Upshur, Wood, and Gregg counties.

Contact Meals on Wheels at www.mealsonwheelseasttexas.org or 903-593-7385.