SARASOTA – This season brings on many things, and for some, it’s not always happy. Meals on Wheels prepares a little something extra during the holidays for the people who are struggling on the Suncoast.
Sixty-eight percent of their recipients are not only hungry, but they cannot afford to pay for their meals. Meals on Wheels of Sarasota serve more than 180,000 meals a year to thousands of people in Sarasota County. They’re a local, community-based non-profit, who delivers nutritious meals to individuals who are unable to provide or prepare a meal for themselves in their home.
During the holidays, they not only serve meals, but they also deliver gifts too.
Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, Marjorie Broughton, says they deliver about 600 gifts a day along with their meals during the holidays.
“The real foundation of meals on wheels is the act of kindness, compassion and love,” Marjorie Broughton said.
Meals on Wheels help many different kinds of people. Among them, is Angela Haupt. She is a Suncoast resident with no family who has had about 135 surgeries, needing assistance with her daily routine. The holidays tend to be lonely for her.
“Usually I’m pretty depressed during the holidays,” Angela Haupt said. “And, I really don’t like to see it come. But, since I’ve met these nice people and stuff… (tears), they make up for it.”
“We know that isolation leads to depression,” Broughton said. “So, our one-thousand calorie meals that go out, often have more vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid; the things that have a positive effect on those are slightly depressed.”
Another recipient of the meals, Max Branch, a retired army veteran, feels like he is the lucky one.
“All these other people don’t have these opportunities to have this delivered to their homes,” Max Branch said.
The holiday meals will include a meatier more robust meal than usual. Haupt encourages you to reach out if you need help.
“You just need to ask for help, they’re here to help,” Haupt said. “Get on the phone, try and get a hold of meals on wheels, explain your story, and they’ll come out and help you.”
If you are a person in need, Meals on Wheels can help. For more information, visit our website.
