New Jersey Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood) recently dedicated his time to volunteer with Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, known for its commitment to delivering nutritious meals to seniors in need. His experience with the program offered him a profound insight into the essential services it provides beyond just food delivery.
“Volunteering with Meals on Wheels was an eye-opening experience,” Schnall remarked. “It’s so much more than a meal delivery service; it’s a vital connection to the outside world for those who may otherwise be isolated.”
The Assemblyman also said he was particularly moved by the personal stories of the seniors he met, many of whom live alone and rely on the program not just for their nutritional needs but also for much-needed social interaction.
“For many of the seniors I had the privilege to meet, the visit from Meals on Wheels is the highlight of their day. For some, it’s the only human interaction they have. It’s a lifeline in every sense of the word,” Schnall explained.
“Meals on Wheels does an incredible job with the resources they have, but there’s always a greater need. It’s not just about delivering food; it’s about delivering hope, companionship, and a sense of belonging to our community’s most vulnerable,” he added
Having delivered meals on wheels myself, I can agree with the sentiment.
For many recipients it may be the only hot meal they eat all day.
Thankfully, during Covid the program was extended to provide meals for shabbos and Sunday as well.
Unfortunately, many times I was the only person visiting these folks on a regular basis. This meant that the only indication that anything was wrong for a particular individual was if the next day their meal was still hanging on the door. If there was a deviation from the norm we would call in a welfare check. (Different people had different delivery methods. For some people I’d bring it into their house and set down on the table in front of them, others would greet me at the door, and for others I’d leave on their doorknob.)
In many ways I miss that job. Some of those people may have been cranky or grumpy, but I grew to like them in some ways. Many of them were sweet old folks whose only human interaction for the day was getting their meal delivered.
I just looked at the picture, he was delivering for the county. I delivered the kosher MOW administered by LCSC
Yes he was delivering to all not being discriminatory and delivering to only one religion. People are people all deserve respect and care.