‘Meals on Wheels’ Offers Hot Meals to Island Elders

At top: About 20 elderly and handicapped residents receive home-made dinners at least twice a week through the Meals on Wheels program. Members of the program include (from left) Jill Horn, Kathy Andress, Jewell Geyer, and Megan Kromer (not pictured). At left: Megan Kromer (left) hands a hot meal to Island resident Joe Mesick. The program, funded by Mackinac Island Community Foundation, serves hot dinners delivered by snowmobile two times a week.

Mackinac Island now has meal delivery service for elderly and handicapped residents through a new program called Meals on Wheels. Funded with a $1,500 grant from Mackinac Island Community Foundation, four Island women are volunteering to prepare hot meals and deliver them by snowmobile to elderly and handicapped residents at least twice a week throughout the winter.

The program was started by Kathy Andress and Jewell Geyer. Assisting them are Jill Horn and Megan Kromer. The women use Ste. Anne’s Church’s kitchen facility to prepare about 20 meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“It’s a great program that allows people who aren’t able to get around so easily to have a least a good meal or two during the week,” said Ms. Andress.

“It’s home-cooked food, so it’s a great meal,” added Ms. Geyer.

The program, which started January 1, will continue as long as the snow is on the ground, said Mrs. Kromer. She said the program takes care of most, if not all, of the Island’s elderly and handicapped residents, since Ms. Andress and Ms. Geyer know almost everyone in the small Island community.

The women have so far made and delivered meal featuring roast pork, lasagna, Swedish meatballs, and spaghetti. The free meal comes with a side of vegetables, bread, and a dessert.