Heather Schelble, volunteer for VOA of Colorado’s Meals on Wheels program, has a deep passion for helping others. Her grandfather delivered for Meals on Wheels in California for over 40 years and well into his 90s. She would go with him on his route starting when she was just five years old.
Today, Heather is passing along her servant’s heart to her two little boys. Both of her sons – one just started kindergarten and the other just learned to walk – often come with her when she makes her Meals on Wheels deliveries every week.
With just about every delivery, Heather takes the time to talk with the recipients and form relationships that go beyond a simple dropping off of food. She remembers birthdays and anniversaries, names of grandchildren, and helps with laundry on occasion. Impacted by the isolation and even loneliness that she sometimes sees, she recently had the idea to give Christmas cards made by her children to the seniors on her route. That idea blossomed, and soon her extended family and children in her neighborhood joined in, then the entire school. In December of last year, she had gathered over 900 handmade cards, each one received along with the meal delivered. And on Valentine’s Day she delivered another round of heart-felt love to those in need.
Volunteers of America Colorado’s Meals on Wheels Program serves Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson and Larimer counties. In 2022, the program delivered 1,400,765 meals to Coloradans experiencing food insecurity. Other significant numbers include:
- City Harvest Food Bank provided 644,895 pounds food to over 70 community pantries and food banks serving low-income families and the homeless throughout the Denver Metropolitan Area.
- Number of people served in a month from City Harvest: 32,812
- Number of people served in a year from City Harvest: 393,744
- Amount of food sent out from City Harvest this FY: 673, 279
- 20% of the amount of people we serve are veterans.
VOA Colorado has several other nutrition and food programs designed to assist individuals with their nutritional needs, families with emergency food, and food pantries and soup kitchens with staples, fresh produce, dairy, and baked goods. The City Harvest food program collects perishable and non-perishable donated foods and distributes to over 70 community pantries and foodbanks serving low-income families and the homeless throughout the Denver Metropolitan Area, and the Seniors’ Nutrition Program provides nutritious meals, access to community resources and positive social interaction at Congregate Dining Centers.
Each Meals on Wheels delivery consists of an entrée and accompaniments such as vegetables, fruits, breads, milk, etc. that are needed to provide at least one-third of the recommended daily nutrients for older adults. The meals are low in fat and cholesterol and provide the valuable nutrients older adults need without the additional calories. Program services also include nutrition education, information and assistance in accessing other services available to the homebound elderly.
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