Meals on Wheels honors volunteers
Published 10:38 pm Saturday, September 15, 2012
Oldest volunteer: Suffolk Meals on Wheels Executive Director Roseland Worrell shares a hug with the organizations’ oldest volunteer, Ellner Horton, during a volunteer recognition program on Thursday. (Tracy Agnew/Suffolk News-Herald)
The Suffolk Meals on Wheels program held a dinner Thursday evening to honor its volunteers and the 25th year of the program’s existence.
About 120 people were served dinner prepared by the Holland Ruritan Club, had the chance to win door prizes and were honored for landmark years of service.
“Meals on Wheels would not be possible without our volunteers,” executive director Roseland Worrell said. The organization has more than 300 volunteers and provides two meals each weekday to about 140 elderly and disabled clients in Suffolk and Isle of Wight County to allow them to remain in their homes.
Doug Casey, a member of the board, said it had been a “banner year” for Suffolk Meals on Wheels as both the clientele and volunteer rosters increased in size.
“I want to thank everybody for another good year,” he said, commending Worrell for her passionate leadership. “With her leadership, we’ve gone above and beyond.”
Ellner Horton, 95, is the oldest volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
“I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s something to do. Everybody says, ‘Why do you stay so busy?’”
Worrell also took the opportunity to announce the first Meals on Wheels charity golf tournament on Sept. 27.
The organization relies on grants, donations and recipient fees from those who can afford it. It receives no assistance from city, state or federal government, nor is it a United Way agency.
“We want to help ourselves,” Worrell said, explaining the need for the fundraiser.
For more information on the golf tournament, visit www.suffolkmealsonwheels.com or call 934-4911.
Volunteers who were recognized for their years of service include the following:
- 25 years — Hattie West
- 20 years — Lynn Barlow and Jim Pearce
- 15 years — Sarah Jean Walden, Fran Duman, Stan Perry, John Monroe, John Bright, Jacque Edwards, the Rev. Michael and Carmen Halley, Jack Webb
- 10 years — Ron Michalczyk, Gary Baker, Charles Foster, Clarence Johnson, Betty Hardy, Jimmie Copeland, Clarence West, Jim Culliton, Phillip Beck, Emogene Babb, Jeanne Taylor, Lorraine Johnson
- 5 years — Samuel Coles, Mary Ellis, Thomas and Ann Lamb, Burt Bronner, Jean Dennis, Donald Williams, Suzanne Galbreath, Jane Schaubach, Carol Morris, Angela Wilson, Edwin Friend, George Tucker, Mary Virginia Drewry, Frances Moore
