Meals on Wheels needs volunteers

A Tulsa charity is struggling to meet the demand for their service. Meals on Wheels is a lifeline for homebound Tulsans who live alone, which otherwise couldn't get a daily meal. <br><br>News on

Thursday, October 2nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa charity is struggling to meet the demand for their service. Meals on Wheels is a lifeline for homebound Tulsans who live alone, which otherwise couldn't get a daily meal.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says Michael Bergman is a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He delivers seven meals every Thursday. "Like this man, he tells me come on in, he knows on Thursday I'm going to be here about this time I'm usually right there, it's really rewarding." At every stop, Michael pulls out a plate of hot food - a cup of cold desert - and some milk.

For most of the people he visits, it's the most nutritious meal of the day. "The first day I did it I was almost in tears, I did a real hard neighborhood and I came home thinking wow I have so much, compared to some people I met."

Volunteers are the backbone of Meals on Wheels. People like Louise Wilson, who volunteers to help package the meals. "Usually we have four people working and it's about an hour, hour and a half." Meals on Wheels serves about 1,100 people every day in Tulsa.

They know the demand is much greater, but they can't do more without more volunteers. Dan Rabovsky, Meals on Wheels Director: â€œThere are people in the Tulsa area going hungry because we don't have enough volunteers to take them a meal.â€ Meals on Wheels already has a corps of loyal volunteers - but they just don't have enough of them. They have plenty of food - and plenty of people who need it.

They hope someone will help them to the work that needs to be done. Some employers have stepped up to help Meals on Wheels - by giving employees time on their lunch break to deliver meals. If you'd like to help - even just one day a month - the number to call is 627-4103.