FDLIC Volunteers Deliver Meals on Wheels
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Throughout the year, FDLIC volunteers deliver hundreds of hot meals to the ill and elderly through our local Meals on Wheels program. About 35 to 40 FDLIC employees participate in the program on a rotating basis. For many employees, it is a moving experience to deliver the meals in the middle of their day. For many of the people who receive meals, the program allows them to remain in their homes and avoid entering into a health care facility.
Loren Tatom (Policy Services), one of FDLIC's volunteers, said she truly enjoys being able to brighten someone's day by delivering a very needed meal. "A few weeks ago, I had a very moving experience while we were out," Loren said. "Sean Loyer (Fulfillment) and I pulled up to this house and the directions instructed me to deliver the meal to the south entrance of the house. When I made it to the other side of the house, an elderly man was asleep in an old rocking chair. I had his meal ready in my hand, but I really didn't want to disturb his slumber. I finally decided it would probably be rude to just leave the meal there, so I quietly said 'Excuse me sir?' He woke up and said, 'Oh, thank you so much dear, this really means so much to me.... God bless you for taking time out of your day to deliver my meal.' I said, 'You are very welcome sir.' Then he gave me a big bear hug. It was really touching, and I left feeling very uplifted."
"It is providing such a needed service," agreed Dawn Garrett (Training), another FDLIC volunteer. "The people we deliver to come from all walks of life, and they are just so grateful when we arrive. I remember there was one woman I met once that had rheumatoid arthritis and couldn't really move around in her own home even through she was young, in her early sixties. She was just so thankful when we arrived. She told us about how she was feeling better than she had in a while, but, even so, she'd been hungry and hadn't been able to get up to make herself lunch. That's when you really feel the impact of what we're doing. You feel such compassion for these people when you are serving, and I'm so grateful to FDLIC for the opportunity to participate in this program."