
DATE: Sunday, November 16, 1997             TAG: 9711140230

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  142 lines

SPECIAL DELIVERY

``Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.''

- Matthew 7:7

THE KNOCK at Ada Wright's door is more than welcome.

She spends her morning hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, on dialysis, returning home - exhausted.

``I just don't feel like doin' anything,'' she said.

Wright doesn't have to do anything as far as food is concerned - just answer the knock at the door and greet a Suffolk Meals On Wheels volunteer.

Those volunteers deliver nutritious noonday meals to people who are homebound, elderly, recently returned from the hospital, or disabled and unable to prepare their own meals.

Meals on Wheels, which helps people remain independent so they can continue living at home, is a partnership between Obici Hospital, SEVAMP, small businesses and community groups.

``They've formed a unique and innovative partnership to meet the needs of our special population,'' said Bee Norris, director.

Support comes from Obici Hospital, recipient fees, donations, fund raising, grants, volunteer services. No federal, state or local monies are used.

``Meals on Wheels is so good,'' Wright said, commenting on both the service and the food. ``I've got kidney problems, but I'm coming along good.''

She greeted Jacque Edwards, one of 12 Suffolk United Methodist Church volunteers, and board members Hattie P. West and Peggy Holland, who were delivering to homes off East Washington Street.

They found out that Meals on Wheels recipients on dialysis are not uncommon.

A knock on the Vaughan Mitchell door was answered by Charles Mitchell who accepted the food on behalf of his brother, explaining, ``He's on the machine.''

When Charles Mitchell is ready to eat, his lunch will be ready. Prepared by Obici Hospital's Food Service Department it is tasty, provides one-third of the minimum daily nutrition requirements, and costs only $3.50.

Special consideration is given people who cannot afford that amount.

``We turn no one away,'' said Dave Kelly, who will be Meals on Wheels board chairman in January.

Recipients get more than their money's worth. A recent delicious meal consisted of tossed salad and dressing, hamburger steak with onions and peppers, baked potatoes, peas, bread and butter, banana pudding with whipped cream, juice, coffee or milk.

Meals on Wheels also does an excellent job of caring for people on special diets - people like Maggie Stevenson who can't have salt.

``The food is all right but,'' she moaned, ``I miss my salt.''

Stevenson has a variety of problems. Sitting in her living room she counted them off - ``arthritis, blockage in my heart, diabetes.

``I just got out of the hospital, and half the time I can't see how to fix anything,'' she told her Meals on Wheels volunteer. ``If you-all didn't come here, I'd just have to sit and wait - hoping somebody would show up.''

A total of 140 selfless people show up at Obici Hospital on various weekdays, pick up the meals and deliver them in the downtown area, northern Suffolk, Chuckatuck, Holland, and Whaleyville.

The volunteers are individuals or part of a church, civic group, or home health agency. Some work every weekday, others divide their hours with people in the groups they represent.

``We deliver to about 50 homes now,'' said

board member, Ron Williams. ``Our next goal is 60 meals.''

Another goal is more volunteers. ``We have the recipients. What we need are more volunteers to help deliver those meals,'' said director, Bee Norris. ``The need is so great, that a schedule to meet individual needs may be possible.''

Williams calls the volunteers, ``the heroes of the program.''

He spoke to a group of community leaders and elected officials, Wednesday. They were at the hospital, Meals on Wheels headquarters, to see how the program operates, and how the food tastes.

The visitors included John Yeates Middle School eighth graders Kasey Square, Jerrel Thomas, Clifton Spratley, and their teacher, Christina M. Klein.

Their class was selected by the Sentara Health System to join a community service advocacy program they sponsor, Junior Scholars. It is for eighth graders.

The Yeates class was given $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice - which was, Meals on Wheels.

More applications will be accepted next year. Klein's class was the recipient of a trial run in this area. Suffolk City Schools was one of 12 selected for the program.

``It was a narrowing down process,'' said Fred Moore, of Louisville, program director. ``She demonstrated that she is an enthusiastic teacher.''

Following the meeting and meal, most of the men and women helped the volunteers deliver shelf stable foods.

Some volunteers had already made the regular noonday rounds. This was an added attraction, offering recipients non-perishable items to be stored for use in case of an emergency, or bad weather preventing people from going outside.

They were paid for, in part, by a grant from Reynolds Metals in Richmond in connection with the National Association of Meal Programs of Arlington.

``Without Meals on Wheels I'd have to go to the Colonel's or McD's,'' said 75-year-old John Beamon, a stroke victim.

``My sister-in-law fixes my meals on weekends.''

Any trip out of the house would be a struggle for him.

``My wife died a couple weeks ago,'' Beamon said. ``We were married 50 years. We both got Meals on Wheels. It means a lot to me.''

The food delivery is also important to 87-year-old Ada Skinner.

``I only cook a little at breakfast,'' she said. ``I don't eat much, so what they bring for dinner - I eat about half, and save the rest for supper.''

Kelly has a special goal in mind when he starts his tenure as director in January.

``If we can build a financial reserve, we'll also take bag lunches at 4 p.m.,'' he said. ``We need to raise funds for that and we have board members to accomplish that objective.''

Kelly singled out a Planters Peanuts representative, ``who will bring us financial resources and business know-how. He represents a large segment of the community. Other participants,'' he said, ``include Birdsong Peanuts, Allied Colloids, and churches.''

Joe Pugh, who has a severe case of arthritis, will appreciate that extra added attraction.

``I started getting Meals on Wheels this year,'' he said. ``It's fine when you can't cook.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Charles Mitchell, left, accepts a meal on behalf of his brother, a

kidney dialysis patient, delivered by Frank Roberts and Meals on

Wheels Board Member Peggy Holland.

Jacque Edwards, left, and Hattie P. West chat before leaving to

deliver meals along East Washington Street.

Graphic

TO VOLUNTEER

Suffolk Meals-On-Wheels is located at 1900 N. Main St., Suffolk.

The office is open Monday through Friday.

The mailing address is P.O. Box 1100, Suffolk 23439.