More than a meal; March for Meals campaign recognizes importance of Meals on Wheels

Sometimes a simple gesture is profound. This is the case with the Meals on Wheels program. 

From Monday through Friday, volunteers work to make, package and deliver meals to seniors in the community while providing social contact and a sense of security, and they do it with very little fanfare.  

Flathead County Agency on Aging is participating in the annual March for Meals campaign, a month-long, nationwide celebration and call to action that promotes Meals on Wheels programs across the country. 

“It’s always helpful to shine a light on Meals on Wheels, particularly here in Whitefish,” said Roland Mena, Meals on Wheels coordinator. “I don’t think people [are aware] of the amount of activity we’re doing here.” 

Working out of the Whitefish Community Center, Mena said 40 volunteers delivered 9,953 meals last year to elderly individuals in Whitefish.  

Another 2,499 meals were served on site, with table service, an event that occurs daily at the center. Mena's team provides 40-50 hot meals each day. 

Mena wants to highlight the importance of the volunteers who work over 4,400 hours each year. Without them, he said they would not be able to do the crucial work of feeding and taking care of the aging population. 

He said the drivers do more than deliver a meal. They develop relationships with the people they serve and keep an eye out for them. 

“Sometimes, it may be the only contact that person has during the day,” Mena said. “The drivers get familiar with the environment, so they are able to perform a wellness check or safety check.”  

If a driver notices anything unusual, he reports it, and Mena will call a family member or law enforcement to do a wellness check on the individual. 

Mena knows the Meals on Wheel program means more than just meals to the people it serves. 

“Most of the people we’re serving are homebound. They really are kind of invisible,” he said. “They're folks you don't hear a whole lot from in the community, so any kind of advocacy for our aging population is very important, because they can be forgotten.” 

Carla Dyment, director of the Agency on Aging, said the Meals on Wheels program flies under the radar, despite the vital role it plays in the community. March for Meals is an opportunity to get the word out about the importance of what the program provides, as well as and what its needs are to keep running strong. 

“Our nutrition program has seen an increase in the need for home-delivered meals of more than 80% since the pandemic, but our federal and state funding has not been able to keep pace next to the drastic increase in food and employment costs,” said Dyment. “We need our community’s support now more than ever to ensure that we can keep providing these essential meals.”  

For more information call 406-758-5730.