Officials hit the road for Meals on Wheels

The Nodaway County Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program got a high-profile assist late Wednesday morning when five elected city and county officials arrived at the center to deliver boxed lunches to more than 50 local households.

Mayor Glenn Jonagan was joined by Sheriff Darren White, Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice, Circuit Clerk Elaine Wilson and County Clerk Beth Walker during Mayors for Meals day, a national emphasis aimed at spotlighting the importance of nutritional assistance programs for the elderly and handicapped.

The local KFC restaurant donated meals for the officials to distribute along four regular Meals on Wheels routes inside the city limits. Most of the lunches contained two pieces of chicken, a biscuit, green beans, cole slaw and mashed potatoes. However, alternate meals consisting of leaner fare were prepared for clients with diabetes.

But everybody got ice cream.

The local Mayors for Meals effort was organized by Northwest Missouri State University student Aby Torres, a marketing management major who handles public relations for the center on a part-time basis. It was the first time the center had participated in the campaign.

Jonagan said he hoped helping with the deliveries would make more people aware of the importance of Meals on Wheels, which delivers hot lunches to about 100 households countywide five days a week. He added that he was looking for some personal insights as well.

"I think this will make me aware of some things I haven't experienced before, and that will help me be an advocate for the center," Jonagan said. "My wife is very active at the Ministry Center (a local food pantry), so I'm already familiar with the problems with hunger we have in the county. It's something we need to address."

Jonagan urged citizens to become involved in supporting the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels, and said it was also important for members of Congress to recognize the importance of federal funding for programs that help ease the "serious problem" of too many people in rural areas not having enough to eat.

He also said there was a possibility that City Hall might, at some point, formalize its support for Meals on Wheels and related programs through an endorsement, proclamation or even financial assistance.

Senior Center Administrator Amie Firavich said the problem of hunger in Maryville and Nodaway County is probably a lot more widespread than many people realize. Complicating the issue, she said, are seniors who live in want, but who are reticent about asking for help.

"We have seniors who are having to choose between food and medicine," she said, adding that Meals on Wheels and the daily lunch served five days a week at the center serve the dual purpose of filling bellies and offering peace of mind.

"This gives people one less thing to worry about," she said.

Most of the funding for the Senior Center comes from a small "senior tax" added to local property tax bills. The facility, which includes an industrial kitchen, cafeteria-style serving area and large dining space, also receives state and federal dollars and private donations.

Food is purchased from commercial vendors and the Second Harvest Food Bank, headquartered in St. Joseph.

People over age 60 who receive Meals on Wheels or eat at the center usually pay a "suggested contribution" of $3. People under 60 are also welcome to dine at the center for a charge of $6.50.

While donations of money or food are always welcome, Firavich said, the center is also in need of volunteers. Right now there is a critical shortage of Meals on Wheels drivers for the four city of Maryville routes.

Volunteering as a driver, Firavich said, need not be a daily commitment, and people can sign up to deliver food on a periodic basis, once a week or once a month, for example.

Each of the routes takes about an hour to run, and less time if there are enough volunteers so that drivers and food deliverers can work as a team.