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Meals On Wheels In Syracuse Is Looking For More Volunteers Meals On Wheels In Syracuse Is Looking For More Volunteers

By Shoshana Stahl

(Jonah Karp)

MEALS ON WHEELS IN SYRACUSE IS CELEBRATING THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

(James Hilepo)

OUR SHOSHANA STAHL SPOKE TO SOME VOLUNTEERS ABOUT WHY THEY GOT INVOLVED.

(Shoshana Stahl)

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE MEALS ON WHEELS HERE IN SYRACUSE HAS SEEN AN 18 PERCENT GROWTH IN MEALS BUT THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

(Thomas Bassett)

“Individual people are living in circumstances which are almost mind boggling.”

(Shoshana Stahl)

MEALS ON WHEELS IN SYRACUSE SERVE 400 CLIENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. BY THE END OF 2019 THEY’RE ON TRACK TO PREPARE AND DELIVER AROUND 200,000 MEALS. THOMAS BASSETT IS A DRIVER FOR MEALS ON WHEELS AND SAYS PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS FOOD CAN BE.

(Thomas Bassett)

“There are a lot of people out there in need.”

(Shoshana Stahl)

ACCORDING TO MEALS ON WHEELS, 2 OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH SENIORS IN AMERICA IS FOOD INSECURITY AND ISOLATION. THROUGH FOOD AND FRIENDLINESS, THEY TRY TO SOLVE BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.

(Thomas Bassett)
“This specific program allows me to have person to person interaction with individuals who I never would have encountered in any other setting.”

(Shoshana Stahl)
IN NEW YORK STATE, 1 IN 7 SENIORS STRUGGLES WITH HUNGER. THEY COUNT ON THESE MEALS EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH LUNCH AND DINNER.

(Richard Schwab)
“Oh gosh it takes care of so many people that can’t feed themselves.”

(Shoshana Stahl)
BUT BETWEEN THE HARSH SYRACUSE WEATHER AND THE TIME OF MEAL PREP AND DELIVERY, IT’S HARD FOR THEM TO FIND VOLUNTEERS. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE 450 VOLUNTEERS BUT THAT’S NOT ENOUGH FOR THEIR 30 ROUTES A DAY.

(Thomas Bassett)
“The fact that they get these meals enables them to have much needed support.”

(Shoshana Stahl)
SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS FEEL LIKE THEY’RE DOING MORE THAN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. RICHARD SCHWAB SAYS HE FEELS HE OWES IT TO THE COMMUNITY.

(Richard Schwab)
“My mom included is one of the clients. My uncle in the past was and it’s a great thing for them where they still wanna be independent but the cooking part of their life is kind of difficult.”

(Shoshana Stahl)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET MEALS DELIVERED OR BECOME A VOLUNTEER YOU CAN GO TO MEALS DOT ORG. REPORTING LIVE IN STUDIO, I’M SHOSHANA STAHL. BACK TO YOU GUYS.

By Shoshana Stahl SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News)– Meals on Wheels in Syracuse is celebrating its 60th anniversary but it’s not all one big celebration. This year they are also facing a shortage of volunteers.

Meals on Wheels here serves over 400 clients every day. By the end of 2019, they are on track to prepare and deliver around 200,000 meals. Over the last five years, they have seen an 18 percent growth in meals needed.

Two of the biggest issues with seniors in America is food insecurity and isolation, according to officials at Meals on Wheels. Drivers like Thomas Bassett feel that they are able to help with both of these problems through food delivery and friendliness.

“This specific program allows me to have person to person interaction with individuals who I never would have encountered in any other setting,” Bassett said.

In New York State, one out of every seven seniors struggles with hunger. They count on these meals to provide them with lunch and dinner.

The harsh Syracuse weather and the time volunteers are needed for prep and delivery make it hard to find enough people. Retired people and students are their most common volunteers. They currently have 450 volunteers but 30 routes to deliver to each day.

For information on how to get meals delivered or to become a volunteer you can go to meals.org.

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