SAN ANGELO, Texas — Meals For The Elderly is asking Concho Valley residents to help it keep the elderly clients it serves warm as the temperatures begin to drop.
Space heaters and blankets are the target items the nonprofit organization is lacking and it is asking the community to donate these, or even host a donation drive to help.
This organization serves homebound elderly clients in San Angelo, Carlsbad, Water Valley, Grape Creek, Wall, Mereta, Veribest, Orient, Harriet, Christoval and Miles and provides them with daily contact and one hot, nutritious lunch each weekday.
MFTE director of marketing and development Jessica Behringer said winter sneaks up on them every year, so they’re doing all they can to be prepared to help this year.
“People know we make food and they can donate food but they don’t always think of the other things we provide. We are completely out of heaters right now so if we have a recipient call asking for a heater we won’t be able to provide that at the moment,” Bahringer said.
She said MFTE relies on organizations that host drives for items they need, donations from people who care to help and on volunteers who take time out of their days to help them.
Joe Rodriguez has been volunteering at MFTE for more than six years and feels it’s a great way to give back and make a difference in an elderly person's life.
“It's a great way for me to get out and spend time helping others. I’ve been helping so long, I’ve even got my family involved and now we all take time out the week to help however we can,” Rodriguez said.
He helped the MFTE team make more than 100 emergency kits for donations over the weekend.
DeNada Artisan Boutique will be hosting a drive to collect small heaters and adult XL unisex diapers (without side tabs) for the elderly in the community. The (new) heaters and diapers can be dropped off at 3038 W. Beauregard Ave. from now until Nov 15.
If you or your organization would like to donate or host a heater drive, contact the Meals For The Elderly office at 325-655-9200.