Meals and Wheels Program Needs Donations to Keep Rolling

Meals on Wheels is a program that reaches out to seniors without support systems by preparing meals and being an extra helping hand or ear. The Meals on Wheels program was created in England more than seven decades ago and began for the first time in the United States in the state of Pennsylvania around 1954. Its main goal was to provide meals to the least fortunate. From there it grew to the rest of the country.

"In this city, around 600 people benefit from this program annually," commented Mary Vollinger, a program supervisor. But this program which is a part of The Health Trusthas run into bad luck this year. They are losing the support of the city of San Jose, which provides $101,014 dollars, as the economy continues to lose steam.

"To keep the program alive, we need donations and volunteers to pack and deliver food," Vollinger said. Economically, any amount helps and is always tax deductible. The physical help involves packing food and delivering it to the people the program serves.

"To qualify for this program, people must be unable to cook for themselves. It doesn't matter if they speak English. The service is free," explained Vollinger. To participate, they must call Meals on Wheels and fill out a form over the telephone. “Among other things, we ask for the last four digits of a social security number, but it is only part of the application, not a requirement. We do not check the legal status of applicants," Vollinger emphasized. The number is (408) 961-9870 and it includes bilingual services.

One person who benefits from this program is Martha Gutierrez's father, who has been a part of the program for ten years. She found out about the program through a family member who assured her that it was not difficult to join. "My father is more than 90-years-old," she said, her voice filled with emotion, "and we are a low-income family and they have helped us a lot."

Martha commented that thanks to this program her father has received at least one meal a day. "I am always busy with my job and cannot always be with him. This service is very important for both of us, and the cuts to the program have affected us very much.

"Every time a meal is delivered I tell them they are my angels," she said filled with emotion, "the way they act and treat us really makes me feel that is true," Gutierrez concluded.

Linda Smith is a Meals on Wheels volunteer. During the day she is an interpreter for doctors and lawyers. "I was very eager to help my community, and I found this program over the internet and have been delivering food every Friday for more than a year," she explained.

"For me, the best part is helping them, as many do not have anyone that visits or listens to them. They are always very happy when I visit. I don't know how to explain how I feel in those moments, but it is something very beautiful," Smith said.

"It is very unfortunate that there have been cuts to his program. It makes it that much harder to help these people who have no one else to help them. This program is very necessary; we are speaking of human beings who deeply need help. They should look to make cuts in other programs," she expressed.

"My message for the Latino community is that they should work to help others, it doesn't necessarily have to be economic help, but you can help by packing and distributing. We never know if in the future we will also need this help," Smith concluded.