South Bend's Meals on Wheels program pushes through freezing temperatures to deliver food ahead of snow
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The staff and volunteers with REAL Services, Inc. are making sure their Meals on Wheels deliveries don't come to a stop because of freezing wind chills and snow.
Crystal Hallwood, Director of Transportation and Nutrition, says the work can't stop no matter how cold it is.
"Every single one of my team members showed up. I didn't have a single call off, and all of our volunteers showed up today."
Hallwood says the first round of staff comes in at 2:30 a.m. and between 2:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. they put out the first 400 meals. Between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., they put out the second grouping of approximately 400 meals. According to Hallwood, both the Meals on Wheels and their congregate meal programs set out to enable food security and have a built-in wellness check.
"My team has the opportunity to reach about 1000 people a day, and that's a combination of our Meals on Wheels program, our congregate meal program, and then our transportation program," Hallwood explained.
Hallwood says Meals on Wheels isn't your typical food delivery service, it's about community. Checking up on some of the most vulnerable people and touching nearly 1000 lives on a daily basis.
"When we deliver those meals, we're doing not just the food security piece, we're nurturing souls. We're making sure people are safe. We're knocking on doors; we're making eye contact. We're making sure you're okay. If you don't answer the door, we're going to worry about you."
In order to receive these meals, a special group of people have to be willing to face the cold, and they do it with a cheerful spirit.
"I had other people call in to make sure that our needs were met, because they wanted to make sure that the people on their routes were getting meals," said Hallwood.
As far as those making the trips to help serve their neighbors, Hallwood tells ABC 57 that the drivers make sure they're prepared to do the job.
"I think the only extra prep that goes in is people are leaving a little bit earlier to come into work, or a little bit earlier to come in for their volunteer role and then taking their time on the roads."
As Michiana faces another round of snow and freezing wind chills, those who can't make it outside can rest assured knowing they don't have to figure out where their next meal is coming from.
Hallwood shared with ABC 57 they are always open to new volunteers, and they even have small nutrition sites in different communities that you can still drive to during a snowstorm.