Evansville Meals on Wheels Expanding Outreach This Winter

Assisting seniors through the pandemic and colder months is the main priority of the meals on wheels program.

And that program-- is taking off--- so to speak--- expanding the number of seniors it can serve this winter.

44news reporter marisa patwa is in evansville that story.

"i normally cook once a month and i can't do any heavy lifting.

And sometimes i forget if i am cooking."

Helen little is one of the six hundred seniors who has a meal delivered every day from swirca meals on wheels program elderly people -- it been a rough year their families, stuck in quarantine, worried about finances.

"this pandemic has really shook everybody up in the world but like i said i am very thankful for the food and it's always tasteful too."

And right at the start of the pandemic in march -- mary cooper moved from nutrition coordinator to head cook over seeing a crew of four preparing meals for seniors in six counties.

"i am a giving person -- i like to give back to people that are less fortunate -- and with them being seniors, and disabled and vets, it means that much more too me."

On wednesday menu joes and broccoli -- and the kitchen staff started cooking right at 5:30 am.

"it's got to look good and i like the compliments they give back because then i know they like what we are doing for them."

And while many organizations have had to scale back their efforts this year due to financial strains - swirca has actually stepped up their efforts twenty four shelf stable meals to each senior over the summer - and they plan to deliver an extra 14 this winter.

"because of the weather a lot of times -- we can't get to everywhere -- especially in our outer counties where they are on gravel years.

So we try to do this at the end of each year but this year with the covid -- it's even more important that if something were to happen to the kitchen staff -- we want to make sure our seniors are taken care of."

Swirca will be having a drive thru christmas giveaway for seniors on friday in their parking lot from 11 am to 12 pm.

But for seniors like helen little who don't leave their homes true blessing.

"i never go out too much but i appreciate them bringing the food here for me every day and it's very tasteful."

Unfortunately over in calhoun kentucky -- a fire wednesday destroyed the senior center where the meals on wheels program was based out off -- moving operations over to livermore city hall.

Reporting in evansville marisa patwa 44news