Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed

VNA-BLUEThe Visiting Nurse Association Meals on Wheels Program needs more volunteers in Kouts, Hebron, Chesterton and Valparaiso. "If you have an hour or so between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., once a week or once or twice a month, we'd love to talk to you," says Janelle Zolkowski, VNA Meals on Wheels Coordinator. Volunteers are also needed to help fill on when regular drivers are ill or on vacation.

Anyone who is looking for something worthwhile to do in the line of community service and who has a valid driver’s license is welcome to become a Meals on Wheels volunteer driver. Individuals, local businesses, and community organizations can volunteer. Zolkowski says, "We have a number of churches, businesses and organizations who have 'adopted' a route, with employees or members taking turns delivering meals during their lunch hour. It's a wonderful opportunity for a church group, business or organization to really make a difference in the lives of the elderly and disabled in our community.

Meals on Wheels has provided nutritional, hot lunches to Porter County residents for more than thirty five years. A large percentage of Meals on Wheels clients are senior citizens. Many of them would be unable to continue to live at home without the service. According to Zolkowski, the Meals on Wheels volunteer is often the only person these individuals see all day. It is contact with the outside world that they look forward to, and it is also reassuring for their families to know someone is checking in on them during the day.

Zolkowski says, "Without enough volunteers to deliver the meals, the program can't happen." She would be "ever so grateful if people could volunteer for even two days a month. That would really help a lot," she says.

For more information on how to become a Meals on Wheels volunteer, contact the VNA at 462-5195.