Impact of rising fuel costs and inflation
The simple truth is that the cost of living is going up, “fueled” (pun intended) by nearly double-digit inflation and rising fuel costs. Last week, the average cost for a gallon of gas in the Texoma region was $4.11, about 45% more than it cost around the same time last year.
These skyrocketing prices make it increasingly difficult for volunteers who often use their own vehicles and pay for their own fuel. Some are having to cut back to make ends meet and nonprofits like Meals on Wheels Texoma find it harder and harder to fill their routes.
On days when there aren’t enough folks to cover all the routes, some volunteers are doing double duty. Allen Haun is one such volunteer who has been delivering meals every day of the week, sometimes delivering two or three routes.
He says “I don’t mind doing the extra routes, but there is a limit to what I can afford to do, because I live on a fixed income. It is the cost of gas that is the real problem for me.”
Meals on Wheels depends heavily on unpaid volunteers who deliver the more than 1,200 meals every day to vulnerable senior citizens and disabled persons living throughout Cooke, Fannin and Grayson Counties. Greg Pittman, CEO of Meals on Wheels Texoma says that volunteers are critical to the organization’s work.
"In spite of having more than 600 volunteers who selflessly donate their time we still have multiple routes to fill every day," Pittman said. "These volunteer shortages are taking a real toll on our resources. We are actively seeking anyone who can donate a little time to help others. Someone who can give us an hour, once a week – is ideal. My goal is to recruit 100 volunteers in the next 30 days. When we have to pay staff to deliver meals, it negatively impacts the number of folks we can help. These are the things that keep me up at night.”
Pittman said that volunteers are at the core of everything they do, contributing over 29,400 hours of their time to deliver 327,000 meals last year. 2,300 unduplicated individuals received help from the organization with the goal of helping seniors remain independent, living in their own homes.
"Our volunteers deliver human connection along with the meals. They are on their front porch every day visiting with every recipient for a couple of minutes and ensuring that our homebound recipients are safe and sound. Our volunteers are often the first to observe changes in someone's physical or emotional well-being, allowing us to take additional measures which may include notifying a family member or coordinating additional services as needed," says Pittman. "In many ways, our volunteers are like family and often they form close bonds with the people they serve."
Anyone interested in volunteering with us can visit www.mowot.org/volunteer or call Cammie at (903) 786-3351. Volunteers are needed throughout Cooke, Fannin and Grayson Counties.
Benefits of volunteerism
Our busy lives can make it hard to find time to volunteer, but the benefits of doing so can be significant. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, participation in voluntary services resulted in an 8.54% increase in mental health, 9.08% in physical health, 7.35% in life satisfaction, and 11.11% in social well-being, as well as 4.30% decrease in depression. Giving to others can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and can help protect your mental and physical health. Volunteering connects you to others, it is good for your mind and your body, and it brings fund and fulfillment to your life.
“My mother, Bette Thompson, delivered meals for 20 years,” said Julie Cummings, a schoolteacher who volunteers during the summer. "During those 20 years I saw how the joy of serving others impacted her life. Funerals don't have many happy memories, but my memories were the countless people whose faces I didn't recognize nor names I didn't know who came to honor my mother's memory and to express their gratitude to her service for Meals on Wheels. What better way to honor my mother than to follow in her footsteps and continue her service? I have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people and I look forward to seeing them on my "days." They mean so much to me in many ways. These past few years have meant the world to me.”
Tri-County Senior Nutrition Project, Inc. D/B/A Meals on Wheels Texoma is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization headquartered in Denison, Texas and serving homebound and disabled senior citizens throughout Cooke, Fannin and Grayson counties.