Tampa, Florida — Many people in the Bay area will spend Thanksgiving feasting with family. This holiday, thousands of seniors are home-bound. That’s why dozens of volunteers with Meals on Wheels spent part of the day visiting nearly 700 clients in Tampa making sure those in need aren’t left hungering for a warm meal or company.
A parade of volunteers rolled up early Thursday morning to Meals on Wheels to head out on 66 routes.
“This is the first time in 40 years we’ve actually delivered on Thanksgiving,” says Andrea Brogen, director of Community Relations for Meals on Wheels Tampa.
“They get a frozen meal earlier in the week, so we decided on goody bags. Elementary schools decorate all the goody bags, and we take them cookies and oranges,” says Brogen.
Recipients also receive flowers from Random Acts of Flowers.
Delivering meals is something radio DJ and volunteer Veronica Alfaro has done every Thursday for a decade.
“After my first route I said, ‘Please sign me up for every week.’ It’s such an incredible organization,” Alfaro says. “It usually takes about an hour to deliver a route. I usually take about two hours because I’ve been doing it for so long. I visit with my recipients. They just kind of become your family.”
House-to-house volunteers create smile after smile.
“Oh I love everything! Yes, I appreciate everything you all do for us. I really do, and I know everybody else does too,” says recipient Marcia Mills.
“Hi, Miss Victoria! Happy Thanksgiving,” Alfaro greets 73-year-old Victoria Vore.
Vore is wheelchair bound and says without the daily meals, “I would starve.”
“I’m all alone and it means an awful lot to me,” says 89-year-old Evelyn Harwzinske who looks forward to the daily chat. “They are special. They don’t have to bring anything to eat. They just have to come just to see me. That’s the most important part of it, to see me.”
The organization provides nutrition for the body and soul on a $2 million budget and couldn’t do it without donations and volunteers.
“We are regulated by the health department, so we have to meet the number of protein grams, carbs, fiber. Every meal is a well-balanced meal of protein and starches. They get at least one meal that’s nutritious and healthy for them, giving them that nutrition that they need,” says Brogen. “For a person to get a meal every day, seven days a week, for every month is about $142. About $1,500 covers one person for an entire year of meals.”
To learn more about the organization and how to volunteer: https://mowtampa.org/.
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