Meals on Wheels
Provides Nutrition and Engagement to Citizens in Need By Kristen Beckman
Like many community programs, Broomfield’s Meals on Wheels had to rethink its processes when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold last year, while also facing increasing need. Lisa Markus, Food Services program supervisor for Broomfield’s Senior Services department, said Meals on Wheels set a new record for meals delivered in one year in 2020 due to the pandemic. The program delivered 32,000 meals last year, an increase of 5,000 from 2019, which itself was a record-breaking year. “The Broomfield Nutrition staff has been relentless in its determination to keep the service going,” Markus said. “Their commitment and passion to serve this community is unwavering, even during a worldwide pandemic.” The program serves between 140 and 170 hot meals Monday through Friday each week, and between 50 and 70 frozen meals that clients can have for the weekends. Meals are available to Broomfield residents aged 60 and up and for residents under age 60 who are unable to prepare meals for themselves, with a doctor’s note. To make it happen, Meals on Wheels typically engages 50-60 volunteer drivers and 10 kitchen prep volunteers each week, working together with five employees. Meals are made from scratch each morning in a kitchen at the Broomfield Community Center. Staff begin cooking at 7:00 a.m. and hot, fresh meals are packaged around 10:00 a.m. Morning prep volunteers package side salads and desserts for the day’s deliveries and help prepare entrees, salads, and desserts for the next day, while afternoon volunteers help with paperwork. Normally, volunteer drivers deliver meals on four routes while Easy Ride drivers, who are part of Broomfield’s Senior Services department, deliver meals on the remaining five routes. Drivers arrive at the Community Center at 10:30 a.m. to pick up meals and spend up to two hours delivering meals on their route, said Markus. However, when the pandemic hit, stay-at-home orders meant Meals on Wheels had to reduce its volunteer crew to 20 volunteer drivers and zero kitchen volunteers. Kitchen staff divided up prep and packaging work typically performed by volunteers, and Easy Ride drivers began delivering to most routes beginning in March. Within the last few months, some volunteer drivers have been able to resume their duties. Kitchen staff now wear face masks and adhere to strict social distance guidelines while continuing strict sanitization and
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Our Broomfield™ Magazine | February 2021
cleanliness protocols, said Markus. In addition, during the pandemic Meals on Wheels implemented a no-contact delivery process whereby volunteers leave meals in a cooler rather than handing the meal to the client. Markus said continuing service during the pandemic goes beyond nutrition to providing important social engagement for clients as well. “Not only do the clients need the freshly prepared meals, but having the service continue hopefully gives them a sense of normalcy and stability when everything else may seem upside down,” said Markus. “While the clients cannot interact with the volunteer drivers in the same up-close way as they did before the pandemic, many can still see and communicate with the daily driver through the window or door.” In addition, the nutrition staff does reassurance calls every week to clients who wish to receive one. During these calls, staff check in with clients to see how they are doing and make sure they have all the resources they need. “We try our best to let clients know that we still care greatly, and we are here just for them,” said Markus. “Our number one goal was, and still is, to keep this vital program going – no matter what challenges arise.” Broomfield residents can help Meals on Wheels by becoming a volunteer driver or kitchen staff volunteer when the pandemic is over. It also accepts donations on its website.
For more information, visit www.broomfield.org/MealsonWheels
