This service is dependent upon volunteers to drive every meal to those that want them.
BREWER, Maine — Excessive costs on the pump are placing a pressure on many people drivers. The price of gas can be having an affect on some social packages, together with Meals on Wheels.
Meals on Wheels is a program that gives meals to seniors 60 years previous and older. To qualify, seniors have to be housebound and unable to afford or put together their very own meals. This service is dependent upon volunteers to drive every meal to those that want them.
Rebecca Kirk is the chief director of Japanese Space Company on Getting old in Brewer, which serves as a Meals on Wheels distribution hub. Kirk mentioned a few of their volunteers are contemplating now not delivering meals till the price of gasoline goes down.
“[Meals on Wheel] is a lifeline for lots of the older residents in Maine, and reducing off that lifeline would simply appear to be an insufferable resolution for us to must make,” Kirk instructed NEWS CENTER Maine.
Kirk mentioned a lot of their 143 volunteer drivers reside on a set revenue.
“We’re so grateful that no volunteers have referred to as up and simply mentioned ‘In the present day’s my final day. I’m not going to do that anymore,’” Kirk mentioned. “They’ve warned us, ‘If this continues, I gained’t be capable to assist this system.’ And that has precipitated us to must say, ‘Wow. If this continues they usually can’t assist this system what are we going to do?’ We’re very involved.”
Versant Energy has donated $1,000 in assist of the Meals on Wheels drivers. The 40 $25 gasoline playing cards will likely be prioritized for volunteers with the longest routes.
“We’re going to be working very intently with our supervisors,” Kirk mentioned. “Notably within the rural areas the place volunteers are driving a whole lot of miles to ship meals to have the ability to ensure the gasoline playing cards are attending to the volunteers who want them probably the most.”
Versant Energy communications specialist Amanda Cummings mentioned they wished to assist volunteers within the quickest and greatest method doable.
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“We all know the pandemic has caused elevated demand for the Meals on Wheels Program and distribution of the meals is a very essential side of that,” Cummings mentioned. “So, if we might do some bit to assist that we thought it was the proper factor to do.”
Japanese Space Company on Getting old is at all times in search of extra Meals on Wheels volunteers. Kirk mentioned the necessity for extra drivers is very nice in Hancock County proper now. To enroll as a volunteer go to eaaa.org.