Serving three counties and 23 cities, including Roanoke and Keller, Metroport Meals On Wheels is committed to providing meals with no interruption throughout the coronavirus crisis.
The organization aims to serve at least 250 seniors per day, Head of Donor Relations Bobbie Dinsmore said.
“It is getting a little hard, but we are pushing through,” she said. “We are getting all the meals we can get out from our local restaurant providers. If we have to move to pantry staples, [such as] bags of canned goods, we can do that.”
To protect seniors as much as possible, Metroport Meals On Wheels drivers are under strict instructions for no-contact delivery, Dinsmore said.
Instead of hand delivery, drivers will place meals on doorsteps or doorknobs, and recipients will get a call to confirm they have received the meal before the driver departs. All meals are wiped down before being placed in a plastic bag.
Meals come from various local restaurants and grocers, including Meat U Anywhere BBQ, Mama’s Daughters’ Diner, Golden Corral and Market Street Cafe, Dinsmore said.
Metroport Meals On Wheels is also accepting monetary donations, and the organization has an Amazon wish list to help stock its food pantry with staples, such as cereal, pasta, nuts and oatmeal.
There are also a number of local food drives ongoing to support Metroport Meals On Wheels and other organizations in the area, Dinsmore said.
“That is where we need help now: donations,” she said.
