Joshua teenager volunteers with his Cleburne grandmother making deliveries for Meals-on-Wheels during spring break

Joshua High School sophomore Cody Crow is not your typical teenager. Oh sure, he enjoys a cheese-laden slice of pepperoni pizza like the next American adolescent. And he’s athletically inclined like most teenage boys his age. But Crow is sage beyond his 15 years, thanks in part to a grandmother who has instilled a sense of civic duty in the boy and an unwavering faith in God and country. The matriarch and her protégé are incredibly close and share affection for fishing and a passion for their community – specifically the area’s elderly and disabled. Whenever possible, Crow joins his grandmother, Johnnie Robinson of Cleburne, during her weekly route for Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties.  

During spring break, Crow served as Robinson’s wingman on her route. Robinson said her grandson experienced his inaugural run four years ago. “They’re never too young to learn community service,” Robinson said. “If someone doesn’t show them, they don’t know the need is out there.”

Crow comes by his passion honestly as his grandmother’s enthusiasm is contagious. Robinson has been delivering meals in Johnson County since October 1993. Crow said he shared his initial experiences with his friends.

“Back when I first started I talked about it,” Crow said. “I told my teachers and I don’t know if it had a great effect, but I know that one of my teachers (did a route for Meals-on-Wheels).” 

“It’s an absolute joy,” Robinson said, adding that the clients along her route enrich her own life on a multitude of levels. “As I get older I realize what history they have.”

“I’d probably do it a lot more if I didn’t have school or a route was on a Saturday,” Crow said. Crow admires their staunch determination to remain self-sufficient. “We have a 90-year-old lady at our church and she lives alone,” he said. “She drives and she’s very independent.”

 Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties delivers noontime meals Monday through Friday in most of the communities served. Meals-on-Wheels is a dual-county program covering more than 1,700 square miles. The meals are delivered by caring volunteers with convenient “pick-up points.”

During the month of March Meals-on-Wheels of Johnson and Ellis Counties along with other meal programs nationwide, 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.  For more information about Meals-on-Wheels services, please contact Meals-on-Wheels at 817-558-2840, 972-351-9943 or email info@mowjec.org.

Johnnie Robinson of Cleburne with grandson Cody Crow of Joshua.

Homer Easley accepts a meal from Cody Crow.