(above, l-r) Delivery volunteers gather at the Mountainside Library parking lot: Glenn Mortimer, Heather Goldbeck, Deb Schrank, Pam Kisciras, Suzannah Greene, Jay Kelk, Kirsten Post, Janet Kelk, Kim Moriak, and Susan Coffey.
Senior Buddy/Meal Delivery Delivers 5,555th Meal
Submitted by Kenny I.
The Mountainside Senior Buddy/Meal Delivery program delivered it’s 5,555th meal on August 14.
The program began on March 23 with an idea from Kim Moriak. Moriak presented her idea to the Mayor and the Mountainside Council for approval. Since then, Mooriak’s idea has grown from March to where it is now, serving over 110 seniors regularly, 3 times a week, with healthy, delicious meals.
Moriak works with the participating restaurants to prepare the total number of meals required, picks them up at a designated time with a team member who has a S.U.V., and together the meals are bagged. A few of the restaurants bag and deliver the meals to the library themselves. Having already made out route slips for the volunteer drivers, the meals are delivered to the library parking lot for distribution. Moriak is always available, staying in touch with the team to help resolve any issues that might arise during this time.
This delivery service is supported by a revolving group of 20 volunteers, sometimes providing the only hot meal of the day for some seniors.
The meals are priced $10.00 or under. All are high quality, healthy, and usually large portioned.
Deliveries to seniors have increased from about 70 to over 120 meals per day.
The list of participating local restaurants has grown to include 23 local establishments, which are used to provide a variety in meal selection.
Participating Mountainside seniors are either called, texted, or emailed the menu by Moriak or a volunteer and asked to make their choice for the coming week.
It is not necessary to order something every week. There are times the calls to order food turn out to be emotional therapy for the pandemic shut-ins. After all, the soul needs nourishment also.
(above, l-r) Meals for seniors are picked up at Outback Steakhourse. Pictured are Duff Regan, proprietor of Outback Steakhouse, Springfield; Kim Moriak, Mountainside Senior Citizen Coordinator; Ray Edwards, Assistant Manager, Outback Steakhouse. The Outback Steakhouse is one of the top requested restaurants volunteering in the program.
