submitted by Jacquie Willis, RSVP special projects coordinator
In 2015, the Catholic Charities’ Senior Dining and Meals on Wheels programs served 2,198 seniors in central Minnesota. Whitney Senior Center, which hosts the two Catholic Charities’ programs for the St. Cloud area, served nutritious meals to more than 1,150 older adults in 2015.
St. Joseph resident Jack Schuh eats at the Catholic Charities’ Senior Dining site at Whitney Senior Center five days each week. Schuh has been enjoying a meal daily at Whitney Senior Center since the passing of his wife in 2000.
“The [senior dining] program is a lifesaver for people who have lost their spouse(s),” Schuh said. “There’s always someone to visit with; I don’t like to eat alone.”
Schuh said he often eats with the same group of people each day and has built many friendships through the dining site at Whitney Senior Center. For Schuh and many area seniors, the dining site provides more than just a nutritious meal, but also the social interaction and connectedness they crave.
“The cook is the greatest and the volunteers who help in the kitchen are the best,” Schuh said.
There are many volunteers who play a vital role in the production and success of both the Catholic Charities’ Senior Dining and Meals on Wheels programs. The Greater St. Cloud Area Retired and Senior Volunteer Program provides volunteers to 10 of the Catholic Charities’ Senior Dining sites, including the site at the Whitney Senior Center. RSVP also provides volunteer drivers who transport nourishing meals via the Meals on Wheels program to seniors in the community who depend on this one wholesome meal per day.
In 2015, RSVP provided 129 volunteers to the Catholic Charities’ senior dining sites throughout central Minnesota and these volunteers served 11,914 hours. If you are interested in volunteering as a Meals on Wheels driver or lending a hand at one of the area’s Senior Dining sites, you can contact RSVP at 320-255-7295 to get more information about available positions or visit RSVP online at www.ci.stcloud.mn.us/RSVP.
RSVP volunteer and Catholic Charities Senior Dining visitor Jack Schuh receives his warm meal Feb. 24 at the Whitney Senior Center dining site.
