Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall takes part in Meals on Wheels ride-along

Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, took part in a ride-along with volunteers from Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth to deliver meals and meet those who rely on the service for some hot food and company.

Snyder-Hall rode along with driver Gil Hofheimer, who met her at Fish On outside Lewes Sept. 24 to pick up the meals before embarking on deliveries for nearly two hours. Among those Snyder-Hall met were Robert and Phyllis Stone, who showed the representative around their home. 

“One of the great things about this community is the culture of volunteerism, and Meals on Wheels is a really impressive organization that is providing vitally important services with the meals every day,” Snyder-Hall said. “It’s really gratifying to know that local businesses and nonprofits and volunteers from all over the community are coming together to take care of their neighbors.”

Meals on Wheels has been active in the area for 50 years and mainly serves meals to people over 60 years old who are homebound. The nonprofit organization serves 300 meals per day just in the Cape Region, prepared by staff from SoDel Concepts. Nineteen drivers fan out to deliver the meals, with Hofheimer covering developments along Plantation Road out to mobile home parks on Delaware Bay. Meals on Wheels operational funding comes from a combination of donations, fundraisers, and state and federal grants. 

While Meals on Wheels has not yet been affected by cuts on the federal level, Snyder-Hall said state officials are working through solutions to best fill the need in case those cuts do come. She said the best part of the ride-along was meeting the volunteers and the clients.