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CHEER’s March for Meals celebrates serving Sussex seniors

Agency has provided more than 100,000 meals over five months
Sen. Tom Carper asks Jack Lawrence about his service in Vietnam as a Marine with special forces. Lawrence recalled his tour with tears saying, “Five of us went in and I am the only one that came out. It’s been a long time since I have mentioned it.” Carper said we have a moral obligation to feed and care for others who may not be able to care for themselves. Meals on Wheels is more than just providing food to the home bound; it offers contact and conversation, lending an ear or a solution for many individuals. DENY HOWETH PHOTOS
April 24, 2017
CHEER Executive Director Ken Bock told local legislators that expanding and upgrading the central kitchen is a major necessity for CHEER to continue providing meals on a comparable scale. Shown are (l-r) Beckett Mitchell, CHEER COO; Carolyn O’Neal, CHEER community relations director; Bock; and Susan Dubb, development director, Meals on Wheels Delaware.
The kitchen was built more than 20 years ago with a capacity of 900 meals a day; that total has almost doubled. In addition, equipment has outlived its lifespan and is now in need of expensive maintenance.
State Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, talks with seniors enjoying breakfast.
Joseph Donovan goofs around during bingo, as Carolyn O’Neal, CHEER community relations director, laughs with him.
Ken Bock gives a tour of the kitchen. Shown are (l-r) CHEER Nutrition Program Director Florence Nason; Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown; CHEER Community Relations Director Carolyn O’Neal and Rep. Tim Dukes, R-Laurel.
CHEER Executive Director Ken Bock, far left, gives a tour of the kitchen and explains the challenges CHEER goes through every day while preparing meals in the overcrowded and out-of-date space. Listening are CHEER Nutrition Program Director Florence Nason; Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown; CHEER Chief Administrator Officer Joyce Westen, and Rep. Tim Dukes, R-Laurel.
State Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, and Sussex County Sheriff Bob Lee get a tour of the kitchen with Beckett Mitchell, CHEER COO; and Carolyn O’Neal, CHEER community relations director.
Sen. Tom Carper visits with seniors at breakfast.
As he catches up with retired Marine Jack Lawrence, Sen. Tom Carper offers him a USS Delaware cap.
Retired Marine Jack Lawrence shows his freezer, stocked with several MOW dinners he eats throughout the week.
Saluting the retired marine, Sen. Tom Carper bids farewell to Jack Lawrence. Florence Mason nutrition program director looks on.

Local, state, and national dignitaries were on hand March 17 to deliver meals to Sussex County senior citizens as CHEER Inc. hosted its annual March for Meals celebration. It was a day designed to build support for CHEER Inc. to not only continue to deliver hundreds of thousands of nutritious meals, but to also offer friendly visits and safety checks for Sussex County seniors all year long.

CHEER’s mission is to promote healthy and active lifestyles for seniors. CHEER serves 1,400 meals a day with 900 of those going to homebound seniors throughout Sussex County. Since October, the agency has served more than 109,400 meals, and over the course of a full year, that number is expected to reach more than 300,000. 

Attending the event was U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who told seniors at CHEER’s Georgetown Activity Center that members of Congress will fight for programs that serve seniors. He then accompanied CHEER volunteers to deliver a meal to former Marine Jack Lawrence of Georgetown. Lawrence and Carper compared their military memories and shared a few jokes. Lawrence also told the senator how much CHEER has done for him. “I couldn’t survive without their services,” Lawrence said.

CHEER Nutrition Director Florence Mason said meeting the needs of vulnerable seniors relies on the willingness and generosity of businesses, government and concerned individuals of all ages to contribute in their own way. “It not only makes economic sense to enable seniors to stay healthy and safe at home, but it improves the health and vibrancy of our communities and our nation at large,” she said.

Also attending the event were state Sen. Brian Pettyjohn and Rep. Ruth Briggs King, both of Georgetown; Rep.Tim Dukes, R-Laurel, and Sussex County Sheriff Bob Lee as well as Delaware Meals on Wheels Development Director Susan Dubb.

The visitors also toured CHEER’s central kitchen in the Adams State Service Building in Georgetown.  Built more than 20 years ago with a capacity of 900 meals a day, the kitchen now sees nearly twice that many meals prepared daily – but the equipment has outlived its mechanical lifespan and is now in need of expensive maintenance. CHEER Executive Director Ken Bock told local legislators that expanding and upgrading the central kitchen is a major necessity for CHEER to continue providing meals at the rate they are now delivering them. He asked the legislators for their help in accomplishing this. 

For more information about CHEER and Meals on Wheels, call 302-515-3040, or go to www.cheerde.com.

 

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