Wednesday was just another day for Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels (MOW) volunteer Lois Peabody.

She arrived at Lakeland Community Hospital that morning to pick up the food —  mostaccioli with garlic bread and green beans — and drive to greet 10 familiar faces.

But Peabody, 86, was surprised when her fellow MOW board members presented her with a gift certificate to Riverfront Cafe, a framed certificate honoring her service and photos to celebrate her retiring after 20 years as treasurer.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” said Peabody, of Niles.

For 20 years, Peabody has served as a delivery driver for Route D, which has about 10 people in and east of Niles. Peabody, who served as treasurer since she began volunteering, is retired from the former Old Kent bank, now Fifth Third Bank.

Although she has stepped down from the board and recently had eye surgery, Peabody is now delivering meals every Wednesday instead of one Wednesday a month. Her route takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how long she chats with the people on her route.

“I’m the Wednesday girl,” she said.

Peabody said she began volunteering with MOW because it’s a “good service to the community.” The previous treasurer, Bill Malone, recruited her to the board.

Since 1979, MOW, a non-profit, has delivered meals from Monday through Friday to homebound elderly, disabled and ill residents within a 5-mile radius of Niles and Buchanan. MOW has about 125 volunteer drivers and serves 50 people on three routes in Niles and one route in Buchanan.

“A lot of times, we are the only people they see,” President Roberta Garcia said.

For more information about volunteering or MOW, contact facilitator Thom Christie at 687-1462 or tchristie@lakelandregional.org.