After 32 years of service to the Slippery Rock branch of Grove City Area Meals on Wheels, Norma Laughner is stepping down, but she is not stepping away.

"The whole program will still be in my thoughts," Laughner said. "I'll still be driving and doing delivery."

What she won't be doing anymore is making sure the operation runs smoothly and overseeing the volunteer calling process. Those are the duties of the branch chairwoman, the position Laughner has held for many years and is now vacating.

"Thirty-two years is enough," said Laughner. "I figure there are other people who need that experience, and it is experience: It teaches you about organization."

Her last day as chairwoman will be Wednesday. Laughner has been involved with the Slippery Rock branch almost since its inception.

After the organization was established in Grove City, representatives sought out members of Slippery Rock Women's Club to sponsor the program in Slippery Rock. Members of the club who were Laughner's friends drew her into the program in 1973. As others moved on, Laughner stayed.

"I took over a lot of the responsibilities," she said.

Included in those responsibilities was the process of calling and lining up volunteer drivers to deliver meals each day. The organization is always in need of drivers, she said.

Laughner gives much of the credit for finding and lining up drivers during her tenure to Mabel Uber, a 26-year volunteer with the program, and Maxine Hilgar, who has called on drivers for 17 years. Uber and Hilgar are also stepping down Sept. 1.

"For years, we never missed a day of delivery," Laughner said. "It had to be terrible, terrible weather."

Today, the Slippery Rock branch serves about 10 meals per day, with clients spread throughout a 35-mile route.

"I suppose we've involved over 80 (volunteers) over the years and served over 500 clients over the past 30 years," Laughner said.

Making those numbers even more precious to Laughner is the fact that the Slippery Rock branch never had to go outside of the community for funding. The cost of meals, which are prepared by a cook in Grove City, is paid by the clients. All other expenses are covered by contributions from people and organizations in the community.

Harry Lutton, coordinator of the Grove City Area Meals on Wheels program, attributed much of the Slippery Rock branch's success to Laughner, even from its onset. There were times under Laughner's leadership that the branch was delivering as many as 17 meals a day, he said.

"Her volunteering was very cooperative and completely committed to the program," Lutton said.

Lutton also commended Laughner for being so involved in preparing her replacement, Barbara Frohne. Frohne has worked with Grove City Area Meals on Wheels for eight years and is now living and serving in the Slippery Rock area.

Frohne admitted she has some big shoes to fill, but said apprehension is put at ease because of the order Laughner has established.

"She has a very well organized system and a dedicated group of volunteers, so I plan to just keep it going," Frohne said.

Although Laughner is leaving behind her duties as chairwoman, she still looks forward to delivering meals with her husband on occasion, which will give her the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the clients.

"It's a very satisfying volunteer job because you're person-to-person with the people you're helping, and they're very grateful," she said.