Although I’ve worked at Senior Services for less than a year, I’ve known this is a special place since my first day. This understanding started with the greetings, smiles and positive vibes I received from my new coworkers, it grew as I learned the scope of services we provide to older adults in Forsyth County.  It became inspiring as I began to hear first-hand accounts of the good this organization is doing in our community. I recently heard a story about a Meals-on-Wheels participant and volunteer that shows just how important this program is to our community and the people we serve and thought it worth sharing.

The 83 year-old, wheelchair bound participant, “Ms. S” lives alone in Forsyth County. Her daughter and grandson both live in Cary, NC and recently started making arrangements to move Ms. S there so she could be closer to  family. They had begun the process of boxing up her things and preparing for the move. In the meantime, Ms. S continued to receive Meals-on-Wheels deliveries as the day of her move approached. During one of her last scheduled meal deliveries the Meals-on-Wheels volunteer grew concerned when Ms. S didn’t answer her knock on the door. She had been delivering to Ms. S for some time and knew she always came to the door. In fact, she had grown quite fond of chatting with her during the meal drop off. The volunteer lingered for a moment, uneasy with the unusual circumstances. It turned out to be fortunate that she did. For she soon  faintly heard Ms. S calling for help through a window in the back of the home. Turns out, one of the moving boxes had fallen in front of the door Ms. S was in and trapped her there all night.The volunteer was able to call the police and paramedics, and stayed outside the window talking to Ms. S, helping to keep her calm, until the authorities arrived and got her to safety. Although scared and shaken, Ms. S  is safe and has recovered from her ordeal.

On this day, our Meals-on-Wheels volunteer delivered much more than a meal to Ms. S…she brought her safety, comfort, and peace of mind. This is just one of many similar stories I’ve heard since arriving at Senior Services. I am now keenly aware that Meals-on-Wheels volunteers don’t simply drop off hot, nutritious meals – they form bonds, provide safety checks and add friendship to the lives of homebound seniors.

We invite you to make a difference in the lives of Forsyth County Seniors. Sign up to volunteer today!