Standby drivers needed at Meals for Me site

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The word “desperate” accurately describes the situation that exists at Meals for Me, a program that delivers hot, noontime meals, Monday through Friday, to nearly 200 individuals in the greater Bangor area.

That was the word used by Debbie Chapman when she left a message on our voice mail asking for help in getting the word out that volunteer drivers are needed to deliver meals to those who are homebound.

And that was the word Jeanne Spaulding, program coordinator for the Bangor site, agreed was appropriate when we spoke with her on Tuesday.

“Yes, we are desperate for volunteer drivers,” Spaulding said, “mostly towards the end of the week.

“I’ve had to go out and do the routes myself. We really need some new faces.”

Spaulding said that while the goal of the program is to get a hot, noontime meal to those who need it, “the main focus is to see people.”

“Those who get the meals don’t go out this time of year. They are afraid of falling, so they stay inside. Some wouldn’t get a meal at all — this could be their only meal of the day — if it weren’t delivered.”

As often happens during the winter months, many of the regular drivers are calling in sick and Meals for Me has had to call upon its reserves all too frequently.

“Because so many of our regular people have called in sick or with colds, we’ve been calling our standbys, but we’ve been calling them so much I’m afraid they will get burned out,” Spaulding said.

For example, one of the regular volunteers, who usually drives three days a week, called in sick “so I’m not counting on her the rest of the week, which means another standby will be called.”

The situation is so desperate, Spaulding said, she would be happy “if people would agree to be on standby, or just call us to say they have a couple hours free; can you use me?”

Meals for Me, a progam of Eastern Agency on Aging, relies on volunteers to deliver its meals. And while some churches and service organizations, such as St. John’s Episcopal Church of Bangor and the Orono Kiwanis Club, provide volunteers as part of their outreach or community service work, it is the individual volunteers who make the program succeed.

“The thing is,” Spaulding said, “we try to be like the mail. The meals must go through, no matter what. We very rarely close. We do give people frozen meals to tide them over, but that doesn’t replace a good, hot meal. This often is the one good meal — sometimes the only meal — a person gets that day. Some of them just wouldn’t eat if we didn’t come.”

Meals for Me provides training so the volunteer is familiar with his or her route, and volunteer drivers are reimbursed for mileage.

If you can help, and we hope you can, call Meals for Me at 941-2871.

We were very pleased to learn that the benefit supper and reception for Leo Higgins Jr., of Bangor, which was Saturday at the Elks Club in Bangor, was a tremendous success.

Higgins, 51, has been diagnosed with cancer and, we are sorry to say, will be returning to the hospital tomorrow.

Mary Jo Freeman, one of the organizers of the event, reported that more than 500 people attended the benefit, which raised more than $9,000 (with money still coming in) to help defray expenses during this difficult time.

Leo Higgins is one of the many members of his family long associated with John Bapst Memorial High School, especially Bapst athletics.

On behalf of the family, and those who are supporting them, Freeman said, “we really want to thank everyone who helped, especially members of the Elks Club, who made it all possible.”

“It was just a great evening. It was tearful, but upbeat, and I know his parents were really taken aback by the response, as we all were. It was great. We had so much food left, we took two truckloads to Manna.”

Freeman said she “got a bit nervous” at the end of the week, since the event was organized on such short notice, and called “a few bakeries and food distributors who gave us more than we hoped for.”

That is why she extends “a huge thank you” to all who participated.

“We can’t begin to thank everyone individually, but we do want all the local people and businesses, who were incredibly helpful, to know how much we appreciate what they did.”

Freeman said, “Leo stayed for 3 1/2 hours, and was just overwhelmed with the turnout and the support.”

Now, she said, “people are requested to pray for him. He needs a miracle.”

Donations to help the family are being accepted in his name at the Eastern Maine Medical Center Federal Credit Union, 489 State St., Bangor 04401.

Although the majority of funds to help the Penobscot Valley High School of Howland Class of 1999 enjoy its Project Graduation activities have been raised, the hope is that community organizations, businesses and individuals will help them complete this fund-raiser.

Class vice president Kathy Haynes informs us the participating class members will bus to Spotlight Cinemas in Orono following graduation exercises on Sunday, June 6, reboard the motor coach after the movie, and head for Sugarloaf/USA Sports and Fitness Center in Carrabassett Valley, where an indoor pool, hot tubs, a racquetball court, indoor climbing wall, food, prizes and dancing with a disc jockey await them. Following an early breakfast, the new alumni return to PVHS Monday, June 7.

Through a variety of fund-raisers, ranging from car washes to spaghetti suppers, most of the money is in place.

But, to complete the project, monetary donations or a prize donation are needed. Financial contributions can be made payable to PVHS and sent to 19 Cross St., Howland 04449.

Prize donations can be made by calling class adviser Linda Leavitt McCullen at 732-3111.

Those working toward a safe graduation for the PVHS Class of 1999 sincerely appreciate your support.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.