Central Ohio Meals on Wheels volunteers on the frontlines during coronavirus pandemic
Senior citizens are most at risk for Coronavirus, so people are doing everything they can to keep them safe. Among those on the frontline, thousands of “Meals on Wheels” volunteers in Central Ohio. (WSYX/WTTE)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Senior citizens are most at risk for Coronavirus, so people are doing everything they can to keep them safe. Among those on the frontline, thousands of “Meals on Wheels” volunteers in Central Ohio.
Josephine Jeffries said the deliveries mean the world to her.
“It’s so hard for me to walk. I am 93 years old and it’s been a real blessing. Everybody who delivers food is so friendly,” said Jeffries.
Chuck Gehring, LifeCare Alliance President, and CEO said: "It is critical that we continue our services for the folks in Central Ohio that we serve and could be served, they are dependent on us for food.”
Gehring said the food is safe. “The meal is sealed. It is all clean. Because we have an Ohio Dept of Agriculture license that watches over the preparation and things like that,” Gehring said.
Staff and volunteers have been told to stay at home with their sick. But a 2-week incubation period is common when carriers don’t know they are contagious. “For our workers, we have been very blunt with them. That if they even feel a little weird, then let’s not send you out that day,” said Gehring.
“If we don’t have people to go to the houses then nobody is going to get food. If we have to we will go to frozen meals for some of the clients, we already do frozen meals for a number of people,” Gehring said.
“We probably have the highest volunteer rate in the United States, for a Meals on Wheels program. We have had a few say they would prefer not to go, and we certainly respect that. There have been a couple of companies who have told people that we don’t want you volunteering because we are afraid to go in the community and things like that. We hope that will perhaps change,” said Gehring.
If you want to sign up to volunteer call 614-444-MEAL. You can also sign up to get meals if you are over 60 years old.
“We are going to go for as long as we can because if we don’t go, nobody else is and these people are very desperate for our services. I think a big thing with volunteers right now has been fear, that they might catch something or transmit something.
If you are one of our volunteers we hope you will keep going, we need you desperately,” said Gehring.
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