Celebrating its 43 years of volunteer service, the “original” Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels and its loyal volunteers continue to offer meals to area residents five days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Since its founding in 1972, the Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels volunteers — and there have been hundreds of them — take an hour out of their time each week or month and deliver a hot meal and a cold meal to people who cannot cook for themselves.

The recipients of these nutritious meals seldom get out of their homes and are always delighted when someone comes up to their door to deliver their daily meals. The deliveries are made each day, Monday through Friday, at about the same time, and the grateful Meals on Wheels subscribers are usually waiting patiently to greet the volunteer bringing their food to them.

Their gratitude is heart-warming. For many recipients, the volunteers are their only link with the outside world because these gracious volunteers are also checking on the well-being of those receiving the meals.

Three of the original founders have sons on the current Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels Board of Directors. Board member “Cappy” Grathwohl is the son of the late Casper O. Grathwohl Sr. and his wife Esther. My mother Virginia Strayer who is 99 years old, was the founder of the local program and helped organize Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels, along with many locals who are no longer with us. Joy Witwer, Donna Lyons, Miriam Hassan, Chuck and Merle Huizinga, and a host of other volunteers.

Our wonderful and loyal Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels volunteers keep up the legacy and include: Don and Ruth Garling, Joan Schmidt, Lois Peabody, Pam Smith, Fran Ort, Jenny Chmiel, Kathryn and Marge Ross, Dan and Evie Greegor, Stanley Trover, Lynn Grathwohl, Chickee Landgraf, Jennifer Watkins, Cathy Hickerson, Eleanor Fisher, Doreen Secor, Pat Dayton, Pam Fisk, Rennay Dalenberg, Leonard Dalenberg, Bob and Pat Frame, Marti Athanas, Rony Gentry, Debbie Mills, and Barbara Craig.

We also want to thank our corporate and business partners who organize their employees to be volunteers including Lake Michigan College, Greater Niles Community Federal Credit Union, Niles Precisions Company, Silverbrook Manor, Brown Funeral Home, Niles Service League, and the Dana Cole Company.

The Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels does not receive any government funding, Fortunately, we are not bound by federal regulations and you do not have to be home-bound, living alone, or over 65. Our clients include many people who are home healing from surgery or fracture or are otherwise temporarily immobile.

The advent of assisted living facilities over the past 20 years has reduced the number of clients receiving Meals on Wheels and we are always looking for referrals from doctors, clergy and neighbors. If you know of someone who needs our services, or if you would like to volunteer to deliver, please contact Christie Purucker at the Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels office at (269) 687-1462.

 

A native of Niles, Jack Strayer moved back home in 2009 after living and working in Washington DC since 1976. Strayer has served as a congressional staffer, state legislative press secretary, federal registered lobbyist and Vice President of the National Center for Policy Analysis. He is a nationally recognized expert on federal health policy reform and led the fight for the enactment of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).