The holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are right around the corner. Around this time of the year, many like to give thanks by either donating to a reputable charity, volunteering at a soup kitchen, spending time at a local church, or ringing a bell for The Salvation Army.
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is a member organization comprising mostly senior nutrition programs in the United States. MOWAA provides nutritious meals and other nutrition services to men and women who are elderly, homebound, disabled or frail. These services improve the quality of life and health of the individuals they serve and postpone early institutionalization.
By Jeremy Barrick,
Staff Writer
The holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are right around the corner. Around this time of the year, many like to give thanks by either donating to a reputable charity, volunteering at a soup kitchen, spending time at a local church, or ringing a bell for The Salvation Army.
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is a member organization comprising mostly senior nutrition programs in the United States. MOWAA provides nutritious meals and other nutrition services to men and women who are elderly, homebound, disabled or frail. These services improve the quality of life and health of the individuals they serve and postpone early institutionalization.
MOWAA is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need, working towards the social, physical, nutritional, and economic betterment of vulnerable Americans.
“Meals On Wheels seems like a good organization. They help others who basically cannot help themselves,” said Cleveland Steward, a resident of the Greensburg area.
The Greensburg chapter, Tri-City Meals On Wheels, has been in operation for 34 years. They are a private, non-profit organization, located at Red Devil’s Field in Southwest Greensburg. Lois Weaver, coordinator for the MOWAA, has been at that location for 8 years. Weaver has a crew of volunteers that consist of kitchen help, runners, and drivers. Anyone can volunteer their time but drivers must be at least 21 years of age. Weaver’s volunteers are mostly retired workers that range in ages from 70-90 years old.
They work one day a week, prepare meals, and deliver them to area churches as well as other routes located in the Westmoreland County region.
“Every year I say ‘thank you’ to my volunteers by having a free banquet for them in Greensburg,” said Weaver.
There is a charge for the meals, the fee is $3.00 a day, and holiday meals are also available the day before. There are many routes available in the Greensburg, tri-state areas. To volunteer, call Weaver at (724) 837-6117 or write to or visit 716 Foster Street, P.O. Box 975, Greensburg, PA 15601. MOWAA is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Melissa Werner, a junior cook at the Sisters of Charity said, “I see the sisters everyday, some of them are elderly. I hang out with them, and serve them. I feel that I am doing a good thing in my heart, and I feel that they appreciate what I do for them as well.”