Charlotte Dehut accepts a delivery from Meals on Wheels volunteer Charles Schaer on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Salem’s Meals on Wheels program has seen more seniors signing up for meal deliveries as more people are staying home.
The program is delivering an additional 147 meals each day and program manager Mel Fuller said she expects that number to grow as the coronavirus closures continue.
Meals on Wheels has deployed 150 new drivers and added an additional 11 routes since the beginning of March.
-Saphara Harrell
Meals on Wheels volunteer Charles Schaer leaves meals in a cooler on the porch of a recipient on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Meals on Wheels line cook James Lopez racks up meal portions for the next day’s delivery on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Meals on Wheels line cook James Lopez portions out the next day’s meals on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Duane Fredrickson jokes with Meals on Wheels volunteer Charles Schaer (not pictured) after accepting his delivery on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Meals on Wheels program coordinator Sheree Kelly walks new volunteer Melody Parr through the delivery procedure on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
New Meals on Wheels volunteer Kevin Opgenorth loads up meals for delivery on his first day of volunteering on Tuesday, April 14. Opgenorth decided to start volunteering after a recent job loss. “It was a great combination of timing and need,” Opgenorth said. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Meals on Wheels volunteer Kevin Opgenorth loads up cartons of milk for delivery on Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Center 50+ cafe coordinator Judy Pack portions out meals for center staff members while volunteers pick up their daily deliveries in the background. Tuesday, April 14. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Meals on Wheels volunteer Charles Schaer heads over to drop off two trays of food at a residence on Tuesday, April 14. After four years of volunteering as a driver, Schaer originally held off on volunteering at the start of the COVID-19 crisis due to medical conditions but decided to return and continue to help. His route included all of the original homes he visited as well as new ones. Meals on Wheels delivery has increased 29% in the past month. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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