MEALS ON WHEELS - A New Driver's View

Dear Club:

I would like here to describe my first experience driving for Meals On Wheels today. Although this is but one small project and many members in our great Club do so much more than me, I will try to describe this new avenue of service and give the least offense...

My story must begin with Kevin Behnke, our (some would say) excellent Community Service Director and (some would further say) great Rotarian. I think he is a pain in the neck and a pest. He intimidated and browbeat me to such an extent that I had no choice but help out on yet another of his innovative but pesky service programs. I had to do it, just to get him off my back where he hung as if simian - screeching and chattering until I could bear it no longer. I curled up like a truckling gerbil and agreed to take the first Thursday of the month delivering a mid-day meal to shut-ins around the Borough of Paramus. I needed only my car and a sense of direction. Thankfully, Kevin was not going to ride with me and the thought of having the freedom to listen to my rare collection of Bach etudes without having to discuss sports scores or team sports or other drivel served to buoy my spirits immeasurably. I almost felt like doing this!

Arriving at the back of Care Plus at 11:15AM to meet Joan the coordinator of the program, it was my good fortune that Kevin was nowhere in sight. Two surly but nice men came out of a white van and loaded a large high-end blue insulated soft cooler and a smaller hard sided white hot box into the back of my Porsc - um, Prius. The large blue cooler had a binder with 9 names, detailed directions with phone numbers and each bag or tray of food was labeled to suit the name. My first stop was only 3/4 mile away where the woman listed did not come to the door no matter how I applied the principles of physics to it. I thought 'great - my first delivery and she's dead or dying or seizing or - something...' I called the niece who was listed on the delivery sheet emergency list and she told me to leave it on the front porch as her Aunt "didn't move so fast and was probably sleeping". I moved on. In nine stops only that first was a no-show. All the others had a pleasant, grateful person waiting for me and thanking me for my trouble. One old dear asked me how much she owed me. I hesitated for a moment, turning a nice profit over in my mind but, looking down on what could have been my sweet grandmother, decided I wouldn't be able to charge her enough to make it worth my while so I passed. It was a hard thing to do but I told her she didn't owe nobody nothing. She sweetly smiled her thanks and withdrew into what looked like a lonely and quietly dark interior.

Came back to Care Plus with empty coolers and turned them in on a table in the cafeteria. Kevin wasn't there, either. Back at the office by 12:30 - just over an hour's work. Taken all around, I enjoyed it and recommend you think about giving it a try - I'll sell you my first Thursday spot... And Kevin might not be there...

Regards,

Bill