Need For Volunteers Means Seniors Wait For Meals On Wheels

Dozen of people who rely heavily on getting food from Meals on Wheels may have to find other ways to eat if the program doesn't get enough volunteers.

For the second year in a row, Tulsa's Meals On Wheels is short on volunteers.

"It's at a critical point of really needing additional people to step forward to make a commitment of just a couple hours a week," said Dan Rabovsky, Tulsa Meals On Wheels Executive Director.

"One time a week. One time every other week."

12/13/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Area Meals On Wheels In Critical Need Of Volunteers

Dan Rabovsky says the demand of recipients is growing, and the number of volunteers is declining. In fact, there's a wait list for homebound elderly and disabled people who live in North Tulsa.

"If we don't get the volunteers, we may have to put some meals on hold, and that would be a horrible thing to have to do," Rabovsky said.

Howard Reese says he depends heavily on the non-profit agency. Reese gets food three times a week.

"I live here by myself, and sometimes it's hard to get to the grocery store and funds are sometime a little bit on the low side," he said.

Although many recipients rely on the people behind the wheels to put a hot meal on their table. it can often mean much more than that.

"Sometimes it's just needing a volunteer to show up on the door step and say to somebody who may not ever see another person that day to say, 'hi how are you today' and to indicate we care about you," said Tulsa Meals On Wheels Executive Director Dan Rabovsky.

Meals On Wheels is also asking for volunteers in East Tulsa. Volunteers meet every weekday morning at local churches.

Call Meals on Wheels at 918-627-4103 or email info@mealsonwheelstulsa.org.

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