Karrah Washington, executive director for the United Way of Randolph County, said United Way is proud to support the Elkins Meals on Wheels program — one of 21 agencies in Randolph County that receives funding from the organization.

“Meals on Wheels is a truly amazing program that gives back to people in the area and is lead primarily by volunteers from the Randolph County area,” she said.” “Meals on Wheels provides hot, home-delivered meals to elderly and individuals with disabilities year-round.”

This year, with assistance from Davis Medical Center, Meals on Wheels serves meals to clients in biodegradable containers that keep food warm and prevent spills.

“The new containers are biodegradable — the plastic (lid) is biodegradable and the container is biodegradable,” Alice – Gervais Sabatino, local field coordinator for Meals on Wheels, said. “These can be microwaved and you could not microwave the old ones, and a lot of the older people were microwaving the food because it was the easiest thing for them to do.”

Submitted photo An Elkins Meals on Wheels worker prepares food for the program. The Elkins Meals on Wheels serves a variety of clients in the Elkins area.

Furthermore, she went on to say clients who receive meals are getting a “balanced meal” thanks to Davis Medical Center, noting the program operates in cooperation with the Davis Medical Center Dietary Department.

“Kudos to the hospital because we have checked across the country into other Meals on Wheels programs and Meals on Wheels, here at the hospital, (provides) a balanced meal,” she said. “They’re getting meat, starch, vegetables and salads. So, they get two containers for each person, and across the country, a lot of people are only getting a soup and a sandwich.”

Sabatino explained clients pay for meals based on their income, adding there are options available for individuals to receive meals at no cost. In addition, she said individuals may apply to receive meals — this is based on a number of factors including age and income.

Meal alternatives are also provided to clients who have certain allergies or specific health problems.

“All of the funding provided to Meals on Wheels by the United Way of Randolph County is used for the cost of food,” Washington said. “Last year, Meals on Wheels served 115 Randolph County residents.”

Meals on Wheels provides services with help from community volunteers who deliver meals five days a week, Monday through Friday, including holidays. Sabatino said the program currently serves approximately 68 people and has the potential to serve 100 clients.

Sabatino noted the Elkins Meals on Wheels program is looking for additional volunteers to serve as delivery drivers and/or volunteers to ride along with a driver to take the meals into the home to the client from the vehicle.

The Elkins Meals on Wheels program has also received grant assistance from the Randolph County Commission and the state of West Virginia as well as individual donations and contributions from clients and citizens in the community. The program serves individuals within a five mile radius of Elkins — a separate Meals on Wheels program serves other parts of Randolph County.

The local program started serving the community in 1974. The local Meals on Wheels program now provides meals to 53 percent of their clients at no cost, according to information provided by Sabatino.