Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IM) is opening two satellite distribution sites for its Meals on Wheels program, allowing it to expand services to homebound seniors needing nutritional support and welfare checks.
On Monday, April 3, IM will begin distribution from Covenant Lutheran Church, 3785 Barker Cypress Rd, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church 1819 Heights Blvd. The space that both churches are generously providing will allow IM volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels in their own community.
These locations, said Warren Wenner, Director of Meals on Wheels, will make it more convenient for volunteer drivers, who live in the area, to deliver food to seniors. Without these locations, volunteers would pick up meals at IM’s Midtown location.
“We hope by making it easier to participate in this critical program, that more volunteers will sign up to deliver meals,” Wenner said. “This means we can provide more meals overall, but also provide daily hot meals to more seniors who, because of staffing, received weekly frozen meals.”
With more volunteers, Wenner said, the list of seniors waiting to join the program will also go down.
“We’re excited and grateful that Covenant and St. Andrew’s have joined us in the effort,” Wenner said. “It really demonstrates the strength that comes from the shared belief of helping others.”
IM’s Meals on Wheels program provides more than a meal. Drivers also provide a daily check on seniors, and can alert Meals on Wheels staff to any additional help a senior might need. For many seniors, their Meals on Wheels driver is the only person they see each day.
Training for volunteers will be conducted at both churches. Anyone interested in volunteering to deliver meals from one of these sites is asked to call Bethany Boucher at 713-553-4989, bboucher@imgh.org.