TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — All year round, Meals on Wheels of Terre Haute prepares food for those in need. But in the summer they take extra care.
“All our meals are sent out in insulated delivery bags. The cold ones also have an ice pack in them and the warm ones have a heated rice bag in them to keep them at the temperature they leave here in,” said Rita Kaperak, executive director.
The Meals on Wheels of Terre Haute volunteers are ready to go beyond the call of duty.
“Every once in a while we have someone whose electricity is turned off temporarily or something. If we find that out we’re been known to deliver water to them or ice to put in a cooler to help them sustain. To keep them hydrated,” she said.
According to Meals on Wheels, it’s because the drivers are always paying close attention.
“If they notice they aren’t feeling well or look dehydrated, they call us and we do a follow-up with their emergency person, their doctor’s office, or we make a personal stop to see what we can do to help them,” Kaperak added.
At St. Benedict Catholic Church, they try to provide food items during their soup kitchen hours to keep their diners cool.
“We do a lot of fruits, vegetables, drinks and ice cream,” said Donna Thompson, who volunteers.
St. Benedict also makes sure to have volunteers on hand who are ready to act, such as registered nurses.
They do it all to care for those in need.
“Anything we can do to help them, we try and do it,” said Kaperak.
