“Angels” at Renovo Heritage Park; Make, Distribute Home Cooked Meals for Elderly, At-Risk Shut-Ins
By Christopher Miller
RENOVO – The news of recent days has been less than pleasant. One local organization in the Renovo area has been making local social media news with their plan to continue to feed the elderly and the at-risk shut-ins of western Clinton County.
Board Members Mary George Rhone, Kari Kepler and her daughter Charly, friend and classmate Martha Sykes, and others have been making meals at home to deliver to those most at-risk who would rather not go out in these troubling times.
“Last week I started a spreadsheet with people we know who are elderly and live alone,” explained Mary George Rhone Sunday in an interview. “So I reached out to the awesome team of ours and OK here is what we are going to do…” and it has snowballed into a phone chain and meal delivery service throughout Renovo.
“We decided then that we would call all of them, to make sure they know to stay inside; we will go to the store for them, drop off food and supplies outside their door with no physical contact whatsoever.”
As of Sunday afternoon, 26 meals were delivered to shut-ins.
“It is heartbreaking and very humbling at the same time,” explained Mary George. “The hardest part was one of them weeping and saying you guys are angels…another on the phone begged me to come in and visit, but I just can’t.”
One of the safety precautions put in place to keep people safe is the phone call before or after the food delivery telling them that there is food outside of their door as to make no physical contact whatsoever. “Gloves are being worn to the store, and to even do something as simple as to knock on a door.” “We drop it and leave, exclaimed Mary George.” “We will take turns on our call list though, to make sure people are all fine.”
“We explain to the ones who come to the door – take the container, put the contents in your own bowl and throw the original container away…the containers are safe, they were in storage at Heritage Park, but still – for the safety of everybody, use your own bowls,” explained Mary George.
Words from the cook included the following: “people need to find kindness in all of this craziness…if they’re making dinner, make enough for the neighbor next door that lives alone.” Speaking of Renovo and borrowing a quote from a chain restaurant, “when you’re here, you’re family.”
Any area shut-ins or elderly who are in need of help in obtaining supplies or food is encouraged to call the Renovo Heritage Park office at 570-484-7000.
