Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Meals on Wheels important to elderly

On several occasions throughout the year, the Gurdon Times reports of the events taking place at the Central Arkansas Development Council/the Gurdon Senior Adult Center.

However, the time to acknowledge the people who make the center function each day has not been taken  until now.

Charlotte Shepherd, the director, runs a tight ship so to speak. She always greets visitors with a smile and knows everyone by name. She likes to keep events happening with the center to keep it's patrons coming back.

Martha Bearden is one of the center's activities coordinator, and is always smiling with something pleasant to say.

Royceanne Barbaree is the life of the center as she keeps everyone on their toes as the center's activities coordinator.

Throughout the week Barbaree schedules games, entertainment and other activities for the center's patrons to enjoy. There is quilting for the ladies, a barber shop quartet, several trips throughout the year and the groups will dine out on occasion.

The center is open five days a week with the exception of major holidays. Anyone over 60 years of age can come to the center for its fellowship and warm meals.

If transportation is a problem a bus can be arranged to come and pick patrons up at their house. Currently, the program serves around 54-60 people. Including the homebound that receive the Meals on Wheels.

The Meals on Wheels program is a nationwide program sponsored locally by the Central Arkansas Development Council who prepares hot meals for shut-ins Monday through Friday to insure they are getting a decent meal.

The meals are prepared in the Central Arkansas Development Council Kitchen, along with the Central Arkansas Development Council's Head-start meals.

Once the meals are prepared they are then delivered by volunteers to the seniors in the community. Such volunteers as Kelli Clark and LeElna Davidson say they enjoy visiting with each of the seniors and are happy to know each of them through the program.

Clark said, "Each one has something interesting to tell you. Genella Harris always meets me at the door with a smile and reminds me how nice people really are. She is a sweetheart and I look forward to carrying her meals."

Davidson said, "My six-year-old grandson Drew Kuhn likes to ride with me when I deliver meals. Once you start delivering you become hooked. It gives you a good feeling."

Clark and Davidson aren't the only local volunteers for the program, the others are:

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to the elderly. The Association provides education, training, and development opportunities, enabling its members to provide quality nutrition services and programs to the elderly.

MOWAA's mission is to work toward the social, physical, nutritional and economic betterment of vulnerable Americans. The guiding principle is to help those who are elderly, homebound, disabled, frail or at risk.

MOWAA never loses sight of those whom they seek to serve. Nearly 900 meal programs in communities throughout the United States are members of MOWAA. These programs rely on more than 300,000 volunteers to help prepare, serve, or deliver the more than 1 million meals each day that the elderly nutrition programs provide.

More than 40 percent of all elderly nutrition programs have waiting lists. Others would like to expand their services to provide more meals to those already participating in the program, and all programs face increasing food, personnel, gasoline, utilities and other costs. In other words, the need for funding is great. The help of more local citizens is needed.

Those wanting to help with the MOW program or would like to receive meals, call (870) 353-2095 or, nationally by going to the GiveMeals.com website.