Joyce Harris is proud to call Maypearl home. She’s lived in the rural Ellis County community all her life and remembers when her graduating high school class numbered only eight seniors.

More than five decades later, she said the high school’s graduating class has grown considerably but she pointed out the area still evokes a small community ambiance. “It’s a quiet little town,” she said. 

Harris takes time out of her week and volunteers for Meals-on-Wheels, delivering lunch to some of her neighbors. One of her recipients is Vicki Tolleson.

Harris said she went to school with Tolleson’s mother when class sizes numbered in the single digits Tolleson’s roots include the rustic residence her grandfather once called home. Her expansive front porch boasts bird-friendly additions. Birdhouses and feeders adorn the porch line. Tolleson also has affection for felines and chuckled that her front porch window offers an intriguing pastime for her four-legged counterparts.

“I feed birds so I can entertain my cats,” Tolleson said.  Tolleson said that Harris’ commitment to the Meals-on-Wheels program is commendable. “This has been a life-saver for me,” Tolleson said.   

Volunteers are needed in throughout our communities to deliver nourishing meals to the homebound and elderly. Convenient “pick-up points” expedite the delivery process for volunteers in their prospective communities.

Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties deliver noontime meals Monday through Friday in most of the communities served.  Meals-on-Wheels is a dual-county program covering over 1,700 square miles. “A route takes no more than an hour to deliver, and provides the daily contact for those we serve,” said Sarah Drew-Watson, Ellis County volunteer coordinator.  “We continue to need volunteers to help get meals delivered, as well as local monies to support our organization,” she added.

During the month of March, Meals-on-Wheels along with other meal programs throughout the country, participate in the “March for Meals” Campaign.  This year’s slogan is “So No Senior Goes Hungry.”  The Campaign has three primary goals: (1) raise awareness of senior hunger, (2) recruit new volunteers to help address the issue, and (3) raise needed funds to be used at the local level.  Meals-on-Wheels is promoting the local program through media outlets, “Mayors for Meals”, and a special event: “Night Under the Stars” Campaign Kickoff & Celebration.

“Mayors for Meals” is scheduled for March 18 with local mayors, delivering meals in their prospective communities. 

The Campaign Kickoff for the new kitchen facility will be held on March 28 at the new site of the kitchen at TXI Railport with a reception and BBQ dinner to follow, live entertainment, dancing, and chances to win prizes.  Congressman Joe Barton, the honorary Kitchen Campaign chair, will be the special guest.  The Joe Barton Family Foundation has made the lead gift for the building of the kitchen.   

“We encourage anyone who would like to help or be involved anyway that you can; whether that be through volunteering, donating, coming to our event,  or just telling others about our services,” commented Amy Jackson, director of development.  

For more information about the Kickoff event, volunteering, or services, please contact the Meals-on-Wheels offices at 972-351-9943, or on the web at www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org.  Meals-on-Wheels is a community-based, non-profit organization serving the homebound elderly and disabled residents throughout Johnson and Ellis Counties for 32 years.

Volunteer Joyce Harris of Maypearl is just one of over 600 volunteers that help Meals-on-Wheels daily.	Meals-on-Wheels volunteer Joyce Harris delivers the noon meal to Vicki Tolleson in Maypearl.