Meals on Wheels seeks area support, clients

A Meals on Wheels program for Amherst and Nelson counties is seeking clients who could use a hot meal, as well as volunteers to help deliver them.

The nonprofit Blue Ledge Inc. Meals on Wheels is seeking to deliver meals to anyone 18 or older who is homebound, disabled or elderly who cannot shop for food or

prepare meals for themselves and who have no other reliable means to obtain daily meals, said the new executive director, Ashley R. Poole.

“It’s such a strong and proud area, just getting the word out so they know about it is very important,” said Poole, a certified financial specialist at the Wachovia bank branch on South Main Street in Amherst.

“There’s a true need for it here, that’s where we’ve got the opportunity to do some great work,” said Poole, who also holds a bachelor of fine arts degree and is a musician.

Poole became interested in Meals on Wheels after she heard about the program from friends and picked up a volunteer application.

“Community service is huge for me,” said Poole, who has worked in a variety of nonprofit programs, including as a secretary on the board of directors of a women’s shelter, volunteer work with Relay for Life and as a mediator for high school students with cultural, ethnic, religious and economic differences.

Poole’s task is to organize a board of directors, solicit clients and volunteers and also donations to meet what many say is a need.

For instance, Meals on Wheels Inc. of Greater Lynchburg, http://www.mealsonwheelslynchburg.org, has operated for 35 years and has 250 clients, said Marnie Wittig, the volunteer coordinator and program director. That program also serves Madison Heights, but they don’t have enough volunteers and there is a waiting list, said Lisa Schafer, the Lynchburg Meals on Wheels executive director.

Poole said that eventually, Blue Ledge Meals on Wheels could establish a bridge with the Lynchburg Meals on Wheels.

Meals cost $4 each, but clients aren’t required to pay if they cannot, Poole said.

“We’ve got the funding now to take on more clients,” she said.

Blue Ledge Meals on Wheels has five clients. Funding comes from private, non-governmental sources. Poole estimates that about 50 percent of future clients will be able to pay something for meals. A contribution of $25 provides a hot lunch for five days; $50 provides 10 lunches and $100 provides a month’s worth.

Volunteers deliver meals 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Clients can receive meals one to five days per week, depending on the client’s need.

The meals are prepared by professionals at Fairmont Crossing, a portion of which are donated.

For more information, including forms to volunteer or to become a client, visit http://www.blueledge.org, e-mail or call (434) 907-3625, or write to Blue Ledge Inc. Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1332, Amherst, VA 24521.

call (434) 907-3625, or write to Blue Ledge Inc. Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1332, Amherst, VA 24521. Professionals prepare the meals at the Fairmont Crossing health and rehabilitation center in Amherst. “They know our clients now, they’re phenomenal,” Poole said. Fairmont Crossing also donated a certain portion of the meals and effort. “There’s the difference between bigger towns and smaller towns –– they get it,” Poole said.