To the editor:
This November, Athens County residents will vote on Issue 21, the countywide Senior Services Levy Renewal. The current .25 mill levy supports home-delivered and senior congregate dining meals provided by Meals on Wheels in Athens County.
After starting with Meals on Wheels, our clients’ relationship with food immediately changes. Some mention that more nutritious food positively impacts their health, while others are grateful to have food on the table at all. Clients unanimously love the hot breakfast sandwiches and chef salad! Due to another program at the SE Ohio Foodbank, MOW clients have recently received fresh produce and are always excited to try a new cantaloupe or bite a fresh apple.
Although home-delivered and congregate dining meals are pillars of the Senior Nutrition Program, companionship and wellness checks provided by the delivery drivers are essential. In a survey, clients explained to us just how meaningful those connections are to their daily life.
“I enjoy my cat and the visit from the driver that brings my meals. He is so friendly and stops to take a few minutes to ask me how I’m doing.”
“(The MOW driver) is the only one to see me most of the time. Most days, no one sees me.”
“It is nice to see a friendly face who talks to you and treats you like a person.”
“(The MOW driver) noticed when I had fallen. He suggested I should see a doctor. I took his advice.”
Meals on Wheels is critical for maintaining the safety net for many of Athens County’s most vulnerable people. It provides reliable access to food and safety checks that have saved a few of our clients’ lives. This levy costs very little compared with its impact on the lives of our grandparents, senior friends, and neighbors. I cannot imagine a community without Issue 21, the Senior Services Levy.
Alicia Miklos
SE Ohio Foodbank Director
