Meals on Wheels is experiencing dificulties as high gas prices drive away new volunteers and boost food prices.
Arrianee LeBeau, NCC News
Loyalty in Low Numbers
Syracuse, NY- Three days a week Nann Poole of Fayettville, NY delivers meals to homebound and elderly people in Syracuse. Poole is one many volunteers who use their own cars and pay for their gas to get food out to people in need. “I love the people. Usually they are disabled unfortunately or elderly and it’s hard for them to get out and get their meals on a regular basis, she said.” She said rising gas prices will not keep her from delivering food to some of the neediest people in the community.
Poole and other volunteers said they are usually the only interaction customers have in the day with other people. “I wouldn’t know what to do without them. They’re a big help.” Anne Kicak of Syracuse, NY is on Poole’s delivery route. She has been a Meals on Wheels customer for several years and said she enjoys the time spent with Poole.
But not all volunteers share the same sentiment and are as committed as Poole. Edward Brown, the volunteer coordinator from Meals on Wheels said they are experiencing a decline in new volunteers who say they would like to volunteer but are deterred by the high gas prices.
Daily Mission
Meals on Wheels uses seventy-five volunteers a day to delivery and prepare meals. It delivers about four-hundred hot and cold dinners a day to people throughout Onondaga County. The delivery routes range from ten to forty miles round trip but with gas prices expected to reach $4.00 this summer new volunteers are not stepping up to the plate.
However, Brown said they have always managed to compensate for the lack of new volunteers. Loyal volunteers like Nann Poole as well as staff members have picked up extra routes.
Syracuse, NY- Three days a week Nann Poole of Fayettville, NY delivers meals to homebound and elderly people in Syracuse. Poole is one many volunteers who use their own cars and pay for their gas to get food out to people in need. “I love the people. Usually they are disabled unfortunately or elderly and it’s hard for them to get out and get their meals on a regular basis, she said.” She said rising gas prices will not keep her from delivering food to some of the neediest people in the community.
Poole and other volunteers said they are usually the only interaction customers have in the day with other people. “I wouldn’t know what to do without them. They’re a big help.” Anne Kicak of Syracuse, NY is on Poole’s delivery route. She has been a Meals on Wheels customer for several years and said she enjoys the time spent with Poole.
But not all volunteers share the same sentiment and are as committed as Poole. Edward Brown, the volunteer coordinator from Meals on Wheels said they are experiencing a decline in new volunteers who say they would like to volunteer but are deterred by the high gas prices.
Daily Mission
Meals on Wheels uses seventy-five volunteers a day to delivery and prepare meals. It delivers about four-hundred hot and cold dinners a day to people throughout Onondaga County. The delivery routes range from ten to forty miles round trip but with gas prices expected to reach $4.00 this summer new volunteers are not stepping up to the plate.
However, Brown said they have always managed to compensate for the lack of new volunteers. Loyal volunteers like Nann Poole as well as staff members have picked up extra routes.
Double Trouble with Gas Prices
But this has been the least of the organization’s worries because high gas prices are now increasing how much they pay for food. “What we’ve found is that the food is dependent on our vendors. And our vendors use trucks to transport. And as their cost go up so do the cost of food, said Mason Kaufman.” Kaufman is the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and said high gas prices has caused items they use for ingredients to double and triple what they budgeted. Kaufman said shipments are received daily for certain items and they must stick to a strict diet.
But this has been the least of the organization’s worries because high gas prices are now increasing how much they pay for food. “What we’ve found is that the food is dependent on our vendors. And our vendors use trucks to transport. And as their cost go up so do the cost of food, said Mason Kaufman.” Kaufman is the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels and said high gas prices has caused items they use for ingredients to double and triple what they budgeted. Kaufman said shipments are received daily for certain items and they must stick to a strict diet.
Meals on Wheels agreed that it fulfills a need in the community that sets out to feed people who no longer have the capacity to cook for themselves. But with gas and food prices steadily increasing it’s becoming harder to accomplish that mission.
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