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Meals on
Wheels
Delivers

By Jaime Calder

PHOTOS BY JAIME CALDER

Ruth and Mark DeRuyter are delivery drivers for Meals on Wheels of Williamson and Burnet Counties. Last year, thanks
to volunteers like the DeRuyters, Meals on Wheels was able to deliver fresh, nutritious meals to 108,018 area seniors.

For Eloise Norton, it’s the greens. RIWKH,QÁXHQ]DHSLGHPLF$VWKH in Williamson and Burnet Counties are
´,ZRXOGEHMXVWÀQHZLWK3%DQG initiative grew, the WVS increasingly made by volunteers from within those
J,” says the former librarian, whose served older or disabled adults who, with communities, fostering a culture of com-
driver’s license expired in August, re- family and caretakers deployed in the munity service.
stricting her access to fresh groceries. war effort, were suddenly isolated and
“But with Meals on Wheels, I get my Seniors sign up to receive Meals on
greens every day. I love my greens.” H[SHULHQFLQJGLIÀFXOWLHV7KH0HDOVRQ Wheels for a variety of reasons, from
Wheels concept was adopted in Austra-
Eloise is one of the over 500 Williamson lia in the early ‘50s and in 1954, the ÀQDQFLDOWRSK\VLFDODQGHYHU\WKLQJLQ
County residents receiving nutritious, between. Recipients are provided with
ready-to-eat dishes through Meals on ÀUVWKRPHGHOLYHUHGPHDOSURJUDPZDV monthly menus, allowing them to pre-
Wheels. Designed to keep seniors living established in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- view and plan for each day. All dishes
independently, Meals on Wheels deliv- nia. Today, there are more than 5,000 are nutritionist approved and prepared
Meals on Wheels programs in the United fresh daily by a trained chef. Drivers
HUVIUHVKOXQFKHVÀYHGD\VSHUZHHN States, delivering food and companion- meet at their local senior center to help
weeks per year to individuals who, due ship to seniors across the country. pack meals into coolers before loading
to individual circumstances, cannot pro- them into their vehicles for delivery. And
vide themselves with the same kind of Locally, Meals on Wheels is operated because all their drivers are volunteers,
sustenance. under the auspices of Opportunities Meals on Wheels of Williamson and Bur-
for Williamson & Burnet Counties, a net Counties can ensure that no one who
The practice of organized, large-scale community action agency committed needs their services is ever turned away.
meal delivery originated during the to building strong communities and an
Blitz, when the Women’s Volunteer Ser- empowered, independent citizenry. In Though all Meals on Wheels initiatives
vice for Civil Defence began bringing addition to hosting congregate meals are community-based, this program
prepared dishes to those whose homes and social activities at six community is particularly relevant in the Austin-
had been destroyed, as well as victims centers, all Meals on Wheels deliveries Round Rock metro area, which has the

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