Meals on Wheels rolling along for half-century
An effort that started in 1969 as a church's mission to deliver meals to 13 homebound people in Butler County has grown and evolved into a community-wide effort providing not only sustenance, but love to those who need it most.
Butler Meals on Wheels is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a private dinner Tuesday at Days Inn, where appetizers and a meal will be followed by speakers who have been involved with the group and understand its importance in the community.
Mary Pataky, who has been executive director of Meals on Wheels since 2007, started as an assistant cook 26 years ago before moving up to volunteer coordinator and assistant director.
Today, the local Meals on Wheels delivers 425 hot meals and 200 sandwich meals to 83 clients Monday through Friday. Clients pay a percentage of the meals' cost, but no one is refused meal delivery because of their inability to pay.
“When I started 26 years ago, there were 150 clients,” Pataky said.
Meals on Wheels history in the United States dates to 1954, when the program started in Philadelphia, although its roots were in England where it began in 1943.
Pataky said because the numbers change daily, there is no way to guess how many meals the group has provided since 1969 or the number of volunteers who helped pack and deliver those meals.However, she does have an idea how the program has survived for so long.“The Butler community wants to help their neighbors,” she said. “We do well with donations.”She said meal recipients always enjoy chatting with the volunteers delivering their meals, as they might be the only person they see all day.“When you're handing a meal to someone who can no longer cook or shop for themselves, you're helping them stay in their home,” Pataky said. “They're so appreciative.”Betty Judson, 90, of Butler Township began receiving meals four years ago when she became unable to drive.“It would be very difficult for me — even though I am able to cook for myself, I'm not driving any longer and I cannot walk very well,” Judson said.She marvels at the creativity and variety of the meals, which she always enjoys, although she admits that she sometimes adds a little butter, ketchup or gravy to the veggies.Judson appreciates more than the meals, adding how volunteers are friendly and always available for a quick conversation or ask how she is doing or whether she needs anything.
“I know they have a route, so I try not to keep them too long, but sometimes we get carried away,” she said. “They're so friendly, and they might be the only ones I see all day.”Judson enjoys baking, especially using fruit from her prolific blueberry bush, and always has holiday treats for the drivers.She thinks Meals on Wheels survived for 50 years because there is a need, and volunteers are ready and willing to fill that need with a smile.One volunteer has been with Butler's Meals on Wheels since its inception, serving all that time as a driver.In 1969, Mary Anita Gamberoni, of Butler Township, was a member at First English Lutheran Church in Butler, where the pastor, the Rev. Luther Hyde, was determined to get Meals on Wheels off the ground in the county.Gamberoni said the original volunteers were church members.
“When I first started, my youngest daughter was 2 years old, and she went with us (on deliveries) until she went to kindergarten,” Gamberoni recalled.She still delivers meals every Wednesday.“I think it's a wonderful program, and someday I might need it,” Gamberoni said. “That could still happen because I'm 88 years old now.”Many memorable occurrences while delivering meals in all seasons to every corner of the county remain with her today.“We were out in the country one time near Oneida Dam and it was snowing, and I had to climb up a hill,” Gamberoni said as she chuckled. “I fell down the hill and landed on the basket of meals and broke the handle off the basket.”She delivers to a woman who is 101 years old and has her meals placed in a box outside her home, rather than coming to the door.Volunteers often receive thankyou notes from the people on their routes.“I'm very blessed to be a part of this, knowing how many people we've helped over the years,” Pataky said.
