Volunteers needed

May 21-- May 21--Editor's note: Clients and volunteers for Meals on Wheels of Johnson and

Ellis Counties are referred to by first name only to protect their privacy.

Monday was Horace's birthday.

"Happy birthday," said Lisa Deese, community relations director for Meals on Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties, as she hands him a hot meal.

Horace has been a recipient of MOW for a couple months. He said he enjoys it when volunteers bring him his meal and stay to chat for a bit.

"They've been wonderful," he said. "They are a bunch of friendly guys and girls."

Deese said volunteers are the heartbeat of MOW.

"Without them, we could not meet the needs of our seniors across our 1,700-square-mile service area," she said. "Many of our volunteers have served with MOWJEC for a number of years -- many over 20 years."

Gary signed up to deliver meals after retiring from an insurance business.

"When I was an agent, I sometimes felt like a doctor, lawyer or advisor," he said. "People would share their problem with me, and I would try to help."

Gary has been delivering meals for 16 years and has become famous for his cooking.

He begins meals on Saturday night before he goes to bed and after arriving home from church on Sunday, he puts the finishing touches on the meals and heads out to deliver them.

"On Sunday's, everyone deserves a home-cooked meal," he said.

Deese said although there are many great volunteers, more are needed to serve on routes this summer.

"As life happens and they need to resign, we need new volunteers to fill-in the gap to make sure our seniors receive the nourishment and safety check they need to remain in their homes," she said.

Open routes include Thursdays in Alvarado; Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Burleson; Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in Cleburne; Tuesdays and Fridays in Joshua; Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays in Keene; Fridays in Lillian; Tuesdays and Thursdays in Rio Vista; and Fridays in Venus.

Routes take between 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

Volunteers are required to have a valid drivers license, proof of insurance, use of personal vehicle, must pass background check and complete volunteer training orientation.

Those interested in volunteering can call MOW volunteer coordinator, Natasha McCord, at 817-558-2840.

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