Young Runners to the Rescue
The Sebeka meals-on-wheels
program had a problem. The faithful senior volunteers who had delivered
meals for years were finding it more difficult to run the meals from their
cars to the homebound seniors' homes, but they were more than willing to
drive the delivery car. What they needed were younger legs to complete
that stage of the delivery.
This problem led to a wonderful solution that involved the cooperation of
seniors and students as teams of volunteers for the home-delivered meals.
Margaret Pohlman, Sebeka site manager, contacted the school, looking for
some volunteer "meal runners" to team with the senior drivers. The school
understood the need and saw the merit in supporting students who were
willing to volunteer their study-hall time to deliver meals ... and a
unique cooperative effort was born.
The "senior with wheels" gets the meals at the center, drives to the
school, and picks up the "young runner" for that day. Together, they go
out on the route to deliver the meals to seniors' homes. The participants
enjoy having their meals delivered by the students, and the students see,
firsthand, the importance of volunteers in the program and the part they
play in providing that service. The students realize that they truly can
make a difference in someone's life.
This intergenerational solution is a win-win situation for youth and
seniors. Meals are provided to the homebound seniors, new friendships are
formed between the runners and drivers, and everyone experiences the
satisfaction of being a volunteer to help provide this important service.
What once was a problem is now a successful delivery system with
volunteers, young and old, delivering meals to seniors in their homes.
