Volunteers and Community Support Aid Meals on Wheels During Storms

Over the past few months, Pam Edwards, a volunteer at Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana, developed a close connection with client John Ruiz. As a regular on her Friday route in Merrillville, Ruiz, 85, is known for his friendly nature. Following the storms on August 11, Edwards was relieved to learn that he was safe.

On August 21, while delivering meals, Edwards met Ruiz at his doorstep. He mentioned that his power had returned just the previous day. During the outage, his brother-in-law checked on him, and he relied on McDonald’s for meals while the nonprofit temporarily paused deliveries. Edwards expressed relief knowing Ruiz had support.

Another volunteer, Vega Blossom from Portage, encountered challenges on her route in Gary. On August 18, she had nine extra meals for her 27 clients. She noticed a weary mother with children, including a newborn, outside her delivery and offered the meals to her. The woman was still without power at the time. Blossom shared her feelings of empathy regarding the family’s hardship, but was grateful that she could assist in some way.

NIPSCO reported that more than 33,000 people lacked power on Saturday morning, with approximately 17,000 of them in Gary. Meals on Wheels provided crucial support during these outages, with more than 500 volunteers on over 50 routes. They serve around 2,200 meals daily as stated by Volunteer Manager Faith Evers.

“We have a protocol to follow if volunteers are worried about a client’s well-being,” Evers explained. Volunteers can indicate a ‘change in condition’ through the delivery app, prompting a wellness check by the client services team as necessary.

Patricia Harris, an employee of ten years for Meals on Wheels, prepared her vehicle for deliveries on August 21. The organization recently adjusted its services, offering hot meals over the weekend instead of frozen ones for those without power. They received information about individuals in need from Gary’s city officials, enabling faster meal deliveries.

“Typically, it is a two-day process,” Evers mentioned. “We can provide same-day service due to the increased need.”

After the storm, about 21 new clients were added to their service list, according to Director of Community Engagement and Marketing Melissa Huffman. They supply around 108,000 meals annually in Gary.

To continue support, Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana aims to raise $50,000 through the Neighbors in Need: Start Your Engines NWI campaign, which will fund 8,000 meals. Individuals interested in services can call 219-756-3663, ext. 1, or visit mownwi.org/registration. Donations are also accepted via phone or online at donorbox.org/neighbors-in-need.