The local Meals on Wheels program has seen an influx of requests for meal delivery service since COVID-19 forced many senior citizens to essentially shelter in place.
Dana Peveler, executive director of the Owensboro-Daviess County Senior Center, said staff and volunteers have been delivering close to 630 meals a day compared to 240 on average before the pandemic.
“When the governor laid out his initiative that anybody over the age of 60 could receive a meal — a home-delivered meal, in fact — we grew exponentially,” Peveler said.
Senior citizens have been advised to stay at home and avoid public gatherings. This led to the Daviess County Senior Services pausing their weekday congregate meals program and switch to delivery service.
The operation couldn’t have existed without help from the Audubon Area Community Services and the generosity of Owensboro, Peveler said.
“Everybody that has helped, if they had not been able to, we just wouldn’t have been able to do what we do,” she said. “We could not have done it without this community effort.”
The Meals on Wheels program added 10 routes since upping the number of deliveries.
Dan Lanham, AACS transportation director, said it was a win-win situation.
“We’re thrilled to be able to help first of all, and it’s a way for us to keep our people working and help out at the same time,” Lanham said. “We’ve delivered 4,200 meals so far.”
AACS typically provides 2,500 rides a day in the 22 counties they serve but now it’s 300, Lanham said, adding no staff was let go but hours were cut.
Meals on Wheels has been delivering more than 385 meals a day to seniors, and the rest are distributed at the grab-and-go sites. It takes 18 volunteers and eight staff to keep this well-oiled machine operating, Peveler said.
Peveler said they were also able to put their entire waiting list on home-delivered meals.
Meal Pick Up Schedule
Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County, Inc. — 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday
Adams Village — 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday
The Roosevelt House — 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Park Regency — 11:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday
Whitesville Senior Center — 11:30 a.m. Tuesday-Friday
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