NORWICH – The “Mayors for Meals Campaign” is a national initiative of the Meals on Wheels Association of America. This is an annual campaign intended to increase public awareness and recruit new volunteers. Mayors from across the country committed to deliver meals to the elderly on Wednesday in recognition and support of the valuable service provided.
In Chenango County, Area Agency on Aging home delivered meals were delivered by three participating Mayors: Mayor Joseph Maiurano delivered meals in Norwich, Mayor Phillip Darling delivered meals in Bainbridge, and Mayor William Acee delivered meals in Sherburne. The Chenango Agency on Aging delivers meals throughout the county. Some of the meals are delivered by way of the First Transit buses that also deliver bulk food to the eight Senior Centers. Some centers are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Others are open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while the Norwich Center is open five days a week. Of the 250-300 meals delivered county-wide on a given day, 100 hot meals are delivered from the Norwich Center (First Baptist Church) each day. As in other areas of the county, Norwich also delivers frozen weekend meals to those who require them.
“The Agency is fortunate to have many volunteers in all of the locations that deliver meals,” said Nutrition Services Coordinator Trudy Harris-Irons. “However, the demand in Norwich, especially, creates an ongoing need for volunteers to help get the meals where they need to go.” Volunteers involved with the program agree that it is a rewarding experience to deliver meals to people in need of them. If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer delivery person at any of the centers in Norwich, Bainbridge, Sherburne or Greene, call 337-1770 and ask for Harris-Irons for more information.