Meals on Wheels lacks volunteers before winter

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Linn County Meals on Wheels is short on volunteers as the crucial winter season approaches.

The nonprofit delivers 700 meals each weekday to homebound seniors and others in need throughout Iowa. Even though there are few drivers, some of these people might go without food for the day.

“When we are short of volunteers, we are sometimes not able to run a certain route, which means that some of our clients, around 10 to 20, may not receive their meal for the day,” Stephanie Schmidt, volunteer coordinator at Meals on. Wheels, said.

Many of their volunteers are retired, which gives them time to make these morning trips. During the winter months, they typically leave Iowa to avoid the cold, leaving their place vacant.

“We understand that the roads can be difficult due to snow and ice, but these customers cannot leave their homes and therefore desperately need someone to deliver a hot, fresh meal to them,” Schmidt said .

Drivers have an important relationship with their customers.

“They know me and I know them and if I see that they look like they need something, I’ll ask them if they need anything,” said Frank August Kubecka, a Meals on Wheels volunteer. “It’s uplifting, it’s doing something for the community, doing something for the needy, helping them get through the day with a hot meal.”

They can also play a vital role in their lives.

“It’s a wellness check, it’s ‘Hey, how are you?’ It’s a conversation to just make sure the client is okay and they’re okay and just checking in on them,” Schmidt said.

As a 79-year-old Air Force veteran, Kubecka hopes to see more volunteers.

“There’s a lot of opportunity here and it takes up maybe an hour and 15 minutes of my day,” Kubecka said. “The point is that you are doing something that is valuable and helps those who need it. »

The group especially needs volunteers for Tuesdays and Fridays. To volunteer, there is an application form on the Meals on Wheels website: https://horizonsfamily.org/meals-on-wheels/.

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