Meals on Wheels short on volunteer drivers for Kemp, Mabank; at least six people needed

by David Webb

David Webb is a veteran journalist who has written for the mainstream and alternative media for three decades. He is now a freelancer who lives in the Cedar Creek Lake area. He is a regular contributor to cedarcreeklake.com. E-mail story ideas to davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.

Mabank -- The Meals on Wheels operation at Southeast Kaufman County Senior Citizens Center is in dire need of volunteer drivers for needy people in Kemp and Mabank, according to site director Lisa Smith.

"We need about six drivers -- three for Kemp and three for Mabank," said Smith, who runs the operation from the Senior Citizens Center in George Watts Ball Park in Mabank. "It only takes about an hour in the morning."

Meals on Wheels programs statewide reportedly saw shortages in volunteer drivers this year because of high gas prices and the heat wave during the summer.

Smith said her facility delivers one hot meal per day to about 40 people in the area. The food is delivered between 11 a.m. and noon, she said.

Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. Volunteers must provide their own transportation and gas.

Meals on Wheels clients must be at least 60 or older, unable to leave their homes, unable to prepare their own food and not have anyone available to prepare food for them regularly. Eligibility is based solely on need, regardless of income.

Meals on Wheels organizations note that the volunteer driver delivering a hot meal may be the only person the home-bound client sees that day.

Kaufman County Senior Citizens, Inc. has provided meals for the elderly, disabled and other home-bound residents since 1979. The operation moved from the 25-year-old site in Kemp to Mabank in July 2011 to be closer to the site of the Cedar Creek Lake area's population growth.

Anyone wanting to volunteer for Meals on Wheels volunteer work should call Smith at 903-887-0067.

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