Vandergrift's Meals On Wheels in dire need of volunteers

These days, Vandergrift Area Meals on Wheels is rolling along with fewer volunteers.

The independent nonprofit with a mission of providing fresh and wholesome meals to older folks in Vandergrift and Allegheny Township is in “great need” of volunteers, according to food service director Buster Burnham.

Burnham, a one-man chef show — cooking up almost 300 meals weekly for delivery — said in its heyday, the volunteer roster swelled to more than 150 volunteers.

Now, there’s about 60 volunteers, all mostly senior citizens, dedicating their time and efforts for about three hours each morning Mondays through Fridays.

“We were losing them before the pandemic, and now we’ve lost more,” said Burnham, noting many of the volunteers die or get sick and end up becoming customers themselves.

“If we had more volunteers, we’d like to expand delivery to the Leechburg area,” Burnham said. “We field calls from that area every week.”

Volunteers must be at least 18.

Delivery drivers are in great demand.

“We need five to 10 drivers,” Burnham said. “I say to all the unemployed people: Do something priceless with your time; become a volunteer for your community.”

Freshly cooked hot and cold meals are delivered to homes weekdays and the suggested donation is $15 per week.

“It’s all made from scratch,” Burnham said. “We receive no federal or state monies and rely on donations from local groups.”

Five Starr Catering of Allegheny Township and Tommy’s Catering in Vandergrift provide regular food donations.

The menu is ever- changing, with low-salt and low-fat options that always include a meat, potato, vegetable, salad, sandwich, fruit and dessert.

Popular meals are meatloaf, ham, and breakfast-for-dinner, featuring sausage, home fries, scrambled eggs and baked apples.

All meals are prepared and packaged for delivery in the basement fellowship hall at Saints Constantine and Helen Orthodox Church, located at 167 Lincoln Ave. in Vandergrift.

Another area short on volunteers is in the kitchen.

“I’m a one-man show,” Burnham said. “In the old days, we had prep people, a dishwasher — lots of help — now it’s just me.”

Nancy McGraw, 74, of Oklahoma Borough began volunteering more than 25 years ago, working on the administrative side of the organization.

“When I started, we delivered about 100 meals a day and there was a waiting list to get meals,” McGraw said.

McGraw said volunteers are down more than half. She volunteers several hours a day five days a week.

Prior to the volunteer shortage, most volunteers would handle one shift per week.

Now, McGraw said, most volunteers show up daily to meet the demands of cooking, preparing, packaging and delivering almost 300 meals per week.

“It’s a good feeling to help those in need, and I’ve met some wonderful people through the years,” McGraw said.

Dennis Duppstadt, 70, volunteers every Friday delivering meals.

He started in 2015 after retiring as a counselor in the Kiski Area School District.

“A lot of the customers don’t have much contact with people,” Duppstadt said. “It’s important for the stimulation, engagement and gives them something to look forward to.”

Duppstadt said he enjoys the social aspect of his volunteer gig; most of the meal recipients are elderly or disabled.

Vandergrift Councilwoman-elect Marilee Kessler used to volunteer at Meals On Wheels. She said the daily visits by its delivery drivers has an added bonus.

“It provides a ‘well-being’ check for a few minutes everyday and an opportunity for a brief, friendly chat,” Kessler said. “Often family members live far away or work a lot and can be unaware of small changes that can be the beginning of a big problem. It sure helps to make living a normal life possible for a lot of folks.”

Volunteer Mike McDermott, 60, of Vandergrift, began helping about two years ago.

“I do it all here except cook,” McDermott said. “It’s fun. You get to know people, laugh, tell stories — and I even sing ‘70s songs.”

Burnham is hopeful that more volunteers will step up and help out.

He said the ideal candidate is a retired person, since they meet weekday mornings.

“A lot of people just don’t know we’re here and what we’re doing,” Burnham said.