First Reformed UCC: Meals on Wheels Ministry
On August 31, 1997, the world lost a wonderful humanitarian. That’s the day Princess Diana died. Her death hit me hard because I had admired her in so many ways, but mainly because she was a helper. She used her status to bring light to subjects that no one wanted to really talk about. In that moment, I looked to myself as to how I could help. I first started cooking and feeding at Crisis Ministry with my young children in tow. The three of us fed around 20 people at a time. We did this for several years, once or twice a year until the number of people being fed grew and we were no longer able to do it alone. Then, one Sunday, several years later, I saw a request for Meals on Wheels drivers in our First Reformed United Church of Christ’s bulletin. I called and hooked up with Marguerite Leonard, who, at the time, delivered, coordinated drivers and clients. She was also on the Board of Directors for Meals on Wheels. Much to my shock, after a period of volunteering, Marguerite passed those duties to me in 2010. And so, my Meals on Wheels journey began and to this day that is still my mission.
Meals on Wheels began in 1968 as a Sunday school project at First Baptist Church in Lexington. At that time, it was named “Layman’s Christian Council, Inc.” The name changed to Meals on Wheels in May of 1999. Our Director, Bob Husted, has managed this program for many years with great success. He attends to every need that arises full of vim and vigor. Along with help and guidance from Craig Bullins, our accountant.
There are eight churches with seven routes that serve to help folds in need in the city of Lexington. These eight churches are First Baptist Church, Grace Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, First Lutheran Church, Second Reformed UCC, and First Reformed UCC.
Our church, First Reformed UCC, hosts MOW Board of Director meetings in the Fellowship Hall quarterly. The meals are prepared at First Reformed UCC’s kitchen in the Education Building by Jamie Hollman with much enthusiasm. The meals are picked up by volunteers for delivery from the kitchen as well. During the summer, some of the vegetables that Jamie includes are grown in First Reformed’s Community Garden. The meals are delivered Monday through Friday. They consist of a hot meal, dessert and milk. Our clients are thankful, grateful and pleased with the food that is prepared.
Before the Covid pandemic, we served over 200 individuals, just in Lexington alone. Currently, that number has shrunk to less than half. Sadly, some have died due to Covid while others are now living in long term facilities. On a good note, some are now being taken care of by family members who either work remotely or are now able to attend to their loved ones needs.
We are blessed to have such wonderful caring volunteers that serve this ministry. There is always a need for drivers and deliverers. Most of our volunteers are of retirement age and after serving for many years find themselves unable to do so any longer. In fact, we had a gentleman, Butch Bouchard, a member of FRUCC, who delivered meals until he was 99 years old. As John Wesley’s benediction states, “Do all the good you can by all the means you can, in all the ways you can in all the places you can, at all the times you can to all the people you can, as long as you can.” Butch lived by these words. Some folks only want to drive while others want to deliver the meal to the doors of our clients, so they pair up. Others enjoy serving this need alone.
At FRUCC, the current route’s average time it takes is about an hour. Some days it takes a little less and/or a little longer. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact on of the above churches. And, if you need or know of someone who may need to receive a meal, please contact Bob Husted at Meals on Wheels of Lexington at 336-248-4934. Please contact me to volunteer at 336-357-0648
Alisa Johnson
Meals on Wheels Coordinator, First Reformed UCC
