VIP Employees Help with Meals On Wheels

Helping members of their community is the main motivator for two VIP employees who help deliver meals to seniors in the Marble Hill area.

"I enjoy the work and helping people out," said Steve Flath, one of several workshop employees who volunteers for the Meals On Wheels program. "Getting to know and talk to the people is very enjoyable."

Brian Loughary, a co-worker and volunteer, agreed.

"I enjoy doing it and helping out the community," he said. "I also like talking to people I have gotten to know."

They both said the free meal doesn't hurt either.

The opportunity to volunteer for the Meals On Wheels program came a couple years ago when Martha and Januar Peters, both Bollinger County Board members, brought the idea to Jay Boyer, production supervisor at VIP Industries.

"We were always in need of volunteers for our meal delivery," said Martha Peters, administrator for the Marble Hill Senior Center and Meals On Wheels program.

The Meals On Wheels Program, which provides meals to seniors, has been in Marble Hill for more than 40 years. Volunteers of the program deliver meals to the homes of seniors whose mobility is limited, as well as provide a congregate meal at the senior center Monday through Friday.

Usually two employees, who are chosen on a volunteer basis, help deliver meals each day. Januar Peters picks the employees up at work to take them to the senior center, where they load up the meals. They then deliver between 12 and 15 meals on a route close to the center.

After delivery is completed for the day, the employees get to enjoy a meal at the senior center before heading back to the workshop.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America is the oldest and largest national organization composed of and representing local, community-based Senior Nutrition Programs. The Marble Hill Senior Nutrition Program is one of about 5,000 local Senior Nutrition Programs in the United States. These programs provide well over one million meals to seniors who need them each day.

For more information on Meals On Wheels visit www.mowaa.org.