Lansing, IL

For the last 21 years, the First United Methodist Church of Lansing has offered its kitchen facilities to be used by Meals On Wheels. The idea was brought to the church by Don Jenkins, a member. Don had learned of such a program in a neighboring community and being intrigued by the idea, approached the Administrative Board of his church.

Other churches were approached and a group was formed to organize such a program. Service organizations in the town helped by purchasing the large kitchen utensils and freezer that were needed. Mr. Jenkins remained the Administrator of the program until his death seven years ago.

Meals are prepared and delivered in the town of Lansing on Tuesday and Thursday of each week all year round. The portions are very generous and most of our people can make a second meal from what they receive. The charge is $2.50 per meal or $5.00 a week. We serve as many as 55 meals, twice a week.

There are three coordinators who set menus, oversee the kitchen and make sure the proper number of meals leave for each delivery route. The meals have the quality of "home cooking" rather than institutional food.

Each "Meals" morning, there is a head cook with three others as helpers. Our present volunteer list has approximately 30 cooks and helpers who can be called on but more are always needed.

The town is divided into three delivery routes. There are six regular delivery teams of two and a list of 10 substitutes.

We have three buyers who take two week turns. They receive the menu for their two week period and purchase all the food needed the day before it is cooked.

One woman calls the cooks and sets up a schedule for them for the month. She is also the person the recipients contact when they wish to join the service. She keeps a file on each recipient.

Desserts are made by various women in the town, free of charge. We have a volunteer who sets up a schedule for these donations by the month.

All of our workers are strictly volunteers, this being the back-bone of our program. It is a service of love from one neighbor to another and is staffed by people from most of the churches in town plus caring people from the town at large. We even have volunteers from neighboring communities.

People who volunteer for Meals On Wheels are very special. There have been so many over the years that have given their time and energy as long as they were able. We thank each and every volunteer for each minute they have given to serve their fellow townspeople. In the end though, the volunteer probably receives as much or more than the recipients.