Meals on Wheels gives back to senior in need of service

NILES, Mich. -- Meals on Wheels joined forces with United Way and Wolverine Pipeline to handpick a senior in need of their services, and they even named the day after her, as part of Wolverine Pipeline's Day of Caring.

“Deborah Day” will be filled with service projects to enhance the security and safety of her home by volunteers dedicated to enhancing her living conditions while she awaits her medical results.

Deborah is battling numerous health conditions including attending frequent chemotherapy, and due to her weakness, Renee Reid-Smith, the Meals on Wheels Resource Development Coordinator, shares an encounter a driver had with her.

“She couldn’t speak and she didn’t come to the door and so he knocked  and announced himself, and she left the door unlocked for him and he said, 'Are you okay?' and she couldn’t speak, she said, 'Will you just hold my hand?' and she said, 'For the few moments that he did that, I forgot how sick I was,' and this is what we do.” said Reid-Smith.

Drivers are mandated reporters, so they are required to say something if they see something that could lead the team to her doorstep to provide service for a few other household needs.

Volunteers plan to address slip hazards, yard work, hanging debris, and mold.

For safety precautions and for something extra to make her smile, they added motion detector lights and a new electronic realtor lock to ensure she remains safe and has privacy after encountering a few peeping toms.

Meals on Wheels serves 9,000 meals weekly covering 80 percent of their nutritional needs for seniors in Muskegon, Oceana, and Ottawa Counties of Michigan but today it was about hope.

If you want to contribute to future service days like this, you can contact Meals on Wheels on their website.