By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - For those older residents of Niles and Buchanan who aren't able to get out as much as they used to, a great way to stay connected with the community is receiving a daily meal from our area's Meals on Wheels program.
Community members may have noticed the Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels program, which has been serving the community since 1975, has not published a menu for the month of October.
Meals on Wheels is a private, non-profit, volunteer-based service which delivers nutritious meals to homebound persons, enabling them to maintain their independence and continue to live in their own homes.
It also helps to provide them with daily contact with a volunteer who provides social interaction and a link to the community.
The clients receive one, well-balanced meal daily, Monday through Friday, at lunch time.
The Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels program is always looking for volunteers who would like to help the program by delivering meals.
Delivering meals is a one-day a month commitment, which begins at 10:45 a.m. when the meals are picked up at Lakeland Hospital and then are delivered to the 20 or so clients on the route assigned to the driver.
Adams said they try to give the volunteers the same route each time they deliver, but they also are able to change if they would like.
The Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels program is currently taking clients to have meals delivered to them.
There is no age requirement for one to receive a meal from the Meals on Wheels program. They just have to show they are in need either because they are disabled, are unable to get out of their home or for economic reasons.
The cost to the client is $5 per day.
For more information on how to become a volunteer or to receive a meal contact the Meals on Wheels program at Lakeland Hospital in Niles at (269) 687-1462.