Meals on Wheels program helps feed the elderly

Everyone has to say hi to Dale Sourbeck.

It is 9:30 on Thursday morning as the volunteers gather in the lounge of Meals on Wheels of Northampton County. They take their last few sips of coffee before this morning’s rounds. Each volunteer smiles and shakes Sourbeck’s hand on the way to pick up his or her assignments.

Sourbeck is the last to leave the lounge. He tucks his binder under his arm as he carries the brick-red bag full of hot meals to his silver Ford Explorer. He places the bag in the back seat and plugs it into the car’s cigarette lighter so the food stays warm.

This is Sourbeck’s fifth year volunteering for Northampton County’s Meals on Wheels and he has come to be known as “the mayor.”

Meals on Wheels began in 1972 with 18 clients and has grown to serve approximately 1,400 clients per year. The organization prepares 650 hot and cold meals daily for the residents of Northampton County and the Bethlehem section of Lehigh County.

Meals on Wheels receives funding from client fees, Lehigh and Northampton County Area Agencies on Aging, Pennsylvania department of human services and United Ways. Every meal is subsidized by raising $640,400 per year.

Pennsylvania has the fourth largest population of elderly citizens in the nation, and Lehigh and Northampton Counties are currently experiencing growth that exceeds the state average. To meet the growing need in these areas, Meals on Wheels has started an endowment fund that they hope will grow to $2 million.

The organization offers other services such as grocery shopping, a pet food program and medical care management.

With a corps of 1,100 volunteers, Meals on Wheels of Northampton County is able to fill 56 routes daily.

“We are always in need of volunteers,” said Keri Young, the assistant director of volunteers. “Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t have Meals on Wheels. We really depend on them.”

Before each delivery, volunteers are given a binder that lists the clients on their route and the needs of each person. The checklist includes how many meals they get, dietary restrictions and if there is anything else the volunteer should know when entering a client’s residence.

Sourbeck said he believes Meals on Wheels is important, not only because of the meals they provide, but also the interactions the volunteers have with the clients. He delivers meals every day and has done every route.

On holidays, clients have come to expect Sourbeck to arrive in costume. He has delivered meals as the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and even a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day.

“When I train volunteers, I tell them to try to get the client to laugh if you can because I have had clients say to me, ‘I haven’t had a good laugh in a long time,’” Sourbeck said.

It’s the first delivery of the day. Sourbeck pulls up to a small brick house, double checks the address in his binder and reads the name aloud, “Mary Kreglow.” He grabs a cold and hot meal from the back seat and moseys up to the front door. After three strong knocks he opens the front door announcing “Meals on Wheels!”

Kreglow’s walls are covered with photos of her family and herself as a young girl. When Sourbeck enters her house she is sitting on her maroon couch watching a Food Network show describing how to make a brisket. The TV stand is covered in trinkets, but a framed American flag on the middle shelf stands out among the rest.

Sourbeck places the meals on a small tiled island in the kitchen and points to one of the photos on the wall, asking if it was of her family. In the photo is Kreglow’s son, his wife and their daughter. At the end of October, Kreglow’s son, who lives in California, will come to visit her for 10 days. A wide grin spreads across her face as she talks about him.

“I love my son,” Kreglow said. “When he comes he takes me to the casino.”

Sourbeck chuckles as Kreglow quickly adds that she only plays penny slots.

After taking an early retirement from Ford Motor Company, Sourbeck said he spends most of his time helping Meals on Wheels. He said he has gotten to know the clients well and said he will do anything he can to help.

Hurricane Sandy hit in late October 2012. The storm blew down several trees in the middle of a long driveway leading to a ranch house. This house belonged to a Meals on Wheels client, and after the storm, Sourbeck noticed that volunteers would not be able to reach her house to deliver meals.

Sourbeck called to have the trees removed. However, after several days, he saw that no progress. He said he knew he had to do something or the client would have no access to food. Sourbeck loaded a chainsaw into his car and called a friend to help him move the debris.

Meals on Wheels provides more than just meals. Volunteers also act as a daily check to ensure clients are safe.

“When volunteers deliver the meals, the visiting part and that check is so important,” executive director JoAnn Nenow said. “We have had volunteers save lives.”