Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Gary Norman | Mineral Wells Area News

MINERAL WELLS — Meals on Wheels of Palo Pinto County is facing a growing challenge as rising fuel costs begin to impact its volunteer base, making it harder to maintain daily meal deliveries to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Each week, the organization delivers free, nutritious meals to approximately 200 elderly and mobility-impaired residents who might otherwise struggle to access food.

While no delivery routes or clients are currently at risk of being cut, Volunteer Coordinator Lynn Pullen said filling those routes is becoming increasingly difficult.

“Honestly, we just need people,” Pullen said.

Meals on Wheels operates 15 daily routes, where clients receive hot meals each weekday, along with five additional routes that deliver frozen meals once per week. Keeping those routes running requires about 15 volunteers each day, plus another 15 backup volunteers to cover scheduling gaps.

Volunteers have flexibility in choosing how often they serve.

“If they want to do it once a week, twice a week — however many times they choose — they just let us know,” Pullen said.

A typical delivery route takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour and a half. Volunteers arrive between 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. to pick up prepacked meals in insulated containers, then deliver them between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Containers are returned to the facility once deliveries are complete.

Many volunteers stick with the same route, building relationships with the people they serve.

“Yeah, they become like family,” Pullen said. “You start to get really attached to them.”

The service often extends beyond delivering food.

“Most of our volunteers go beyond just delivering them a meal,” Pullen said. “They may check the mail for them. They may just sit and talk. It means a lot to the clients, because some of them are lonely. A lot of them don’t have family or kids that come visit, so it’s like our volunteers are the closest thing they have to interaction.”

To help meet the need, Pullen said some local businesses allow employees to volunteer during the workweek, and outreach efforts are underway with local churches to establish regular volunteer participation.

For many, the experience is deeply rewarding.

Elsie Bolton began volunteering five days a week after being laid off from her job last December.

“I love it. I enjoy doing for others,” Bolton said. “If you’ve got free time, do it. Not only does it do your heart good, it works for the Lord.”

Samantha Rhodes, who has volunteered for more than 10 years, said the work has become a meaningful part of her routine.

“It just kind of became like a job,” Rhodes said. “I don’t get paid — I’m a volunteer — but I learned to love it because you get to see some of the hardships people live in, and there are a few I’ve developed friendships with.”

For more information or to volunteer, visit http://www.mealsonwheelsofpalopintocounty.org or call 940-325-7919.