The term Meals on Wheels goes back to the Blitz of London in WWII. Most people lost their homes and ability to cook for themselves, so the Women’s Volunteer Service for Civil Defense started cooking and delivering meals to homes and military food trucks called canteens. The canteens were mobile, so the meals became known as “Meals on Wheels.” In 1954, at the request of the Philadelphia Health & Welfare Council, home delivered meals began. It was originally meant for folks convalescing from a hospital stay. Monday through Friday high school kids delivered a hot meal and cold meal on a schedule. The delivery kids were called “Platter Angels.” It was a success story in the making.
This year North Royalton celebrates 20 years of the Meals on Wheels program run entirely by volunteers through Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church as a ministry to feed the hungry. Diane Krafft has been coordinator for almost all of that time. Seniors and other home bound folks sign up for the Monday through Friday service or whatever fits their needs.
Each Day at 10:30 a.m. John from Coyne Catering, Cuyahoga Hts. drops off the 24-27 meals that are divided into scheduled routes for the day. The daily delivery consisted of one nutritionally balanced hot meal and a second meal consisting of a cold sandwich along with varying side dishes. Not only is Meals on Wheels a nutritional staple, it a social lifeline for folks who aren’t as mobile as they once were. On Wednesday, the deliveries are handled by: Kathy Ahrens and her husband assistant George, Ed Albright, and Sue Deal. Ed said his route takes about 1-1/2 to 2 hours to complete, “except when I was in the hospital a bit; everyone wanted to know what happened to me, so I had to retell the story with each of my deliveries.” Kathy said, “Doing this route once a week is important to me as it feeds my seniors and feeds George and me spiritually. We become family and I look forward to seeing them each week.”
Diane Krafft says she has 15 delivery drivers with ten substitutes. “Everyone gets to know the folks on their route and the seniors know what driver is coming on what day. It’s often a social lifeline. The program is open to seniors and people who may be homebound. Our average client is about 80 years old. The cost is $6 a day for the two meals. Our meals are not subsidized by the federal or state grant programs, unlike the City of Cleveland. Occasionally, there is a resident who really needs meals but cannot afford the cost. In those cases we work to find a donor who is willing to support the cost.”
If you need to sign up for Meals on Wheels or would like to volunteer, please call Diane Krafft at 440-37-7958 ext. 234. Donations are always gratefully accepted. It’s a way to give back to the community. Donations can be sent to Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, 11680 Royalton Road, Attn. Meals on Wheels. Royalton Redeemer also sponsors the annual Care and Share Thanksgiving Dinner as their ongoing commitment to feed the hungry.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer