By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Gary Wade, 72, opened his apartment door for lunch on Wednesday, he was met by a judge and fire chief making a special delivery of his ham loaf.
As part of the Wood County Committee on Aging’s 20th annual March for Meals, some “community champions” helped out delivering the lunches to homebound seniors.
Bowling Green Municipal Court Judge Mark Reddin and Bowling Green Fire Chief Bill Moorman took one route that covered Varsity Square apartments off East Gypsy Lane Road.
“I think it’s good to get out in the community and help seniors, and see folks who have trouble getting around,” Reddin said. “It’s something I look forward to every spring.”
Wednesday’s lunch of ham loaf is always well received by Wood County seniors.
“It’s one of their favorites,” said Angie Bradford, director of food service at the Wood County Committee of Aging.
Packed with the ham loaf were sides of corn, marinated vegetable salad, Mandarin orange salad – and as a special treat, cake and ice cream to celebrate the seniors’ birthdays in March.
“I like to give back to the community, to help the elderly here in Wood County,” Moorman said, as he and the judge loaded up the meals for delivery. “It’s a great cause.”
And to Wade and other seniors, it’s a great relief to see the meals show up at their doors every weekday. The meals offer nutrition that Wade said he would struggle to provide on his own.
“I like it, so I don’t have to cook,” said Wade, who has been receiving the meals for the past year and a half. “I’d have to do everything from scratch.”
Also delivering meals on Wednesday were Wood County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Eric Reynolds and Lt. Rod Konrad.
The meal program feeds the seniors physically and socially, Reynolds said.
“Coming off of COVID these people have been homebound for two years basically,” he said.
Delivering the meals is also a “thank you” from the sheriff’s office, Reynolds said.
“They are often the eyes and ears of the sheriff’s office,” he said of the county’s senior citizens.
The Wood County Committee on Aging’s production kitchen prepares about 550 home-delivered meals and 300 congregate meals every weekday, Bradford said. The agency has been delivering meals since 1981 to Wood County seniors who rely on the service to remain healthy and independent at home.
“The services we provide are needed now more than ever for the older adults throughout Wood County,” Bradford said. “Together, we can keep our homebound neighbors safe, well-nourished, and more connected to our community as they age.”
Every March, community leaders are enlisted to join in the deliveries.
“We call them community champions,” Bradford said. “This is to help raise awareness of the need for the services we provide.”
