Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to help seniors amid heat – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Meals on Wheels Collin County fights hunger and isolation; volunteers also ensure the safety of their senior citizens and disabled clients from the dangerous summer heat.

Anna resident Teddy Barner can always be counted on Meals on Wheels Collin Countyeven in fires like Monday where temperatures reached 107 degrees.

Barner, 80, a retired teacher in Fort Worth once thought Meals on Wheels helped those in need during the holidays.

It wasn't until Barner underwent a medical procedure that a friend who volunteers for the nonprofit suggested she contact Meals on Wheels.

She has been very impressed to learn about all the good the organization does in the community and is eternally grateful.

“They have been a blessing to me, not only the food which is very good, very healthy, but also the volunteers who bring the meals,” she said. “For anyone who lives alone, it's nice to have someone who doesn't check on you, but if there's a problem, you know he's there.”

Volunteers with the nonprofit provide meals to elderly and disabled clients Monday through Friday.

They are often the only visitors these vulnerable residents receive during the day and are sometimes the first people to encounter seniors suffering from heat-related illnesses.

“You know when somebody's sweaty dehydrated tired, if I see somebody like that, I take the initiative to be like are you okay, is everything working inside,” said volunteer Douglas Garcia.

Meals on Wheels of Collin County, based in McKinney, desperately needs more volunteers like Garcia. 50 volunteers to be exact.

“We rely heavily on our volunteers to make sure they're doing good checks, making sure the seniors are OK,” said Cortina Jones, volunteer services coordinator for Meals on Wheels of Collin County.

Non-profit organization 1000 hearts, 1000 hands campaign is looking for 50 volunteers, especially in rural areas where fewer resources can leave vulnerable seniors at higher risk.

Communities like: Anna, Melissa, Wylie, Princeton and Farmersville, Jones said.

“If we don't have our volunteers, then this mission is not possible for us to turn over to our seniors,” Jones said.

Local companies have also stepped up to help seniors 'beat the heat'.

According to Shanon Revels, marketing and communications manager for Meals on Wheels Collin County: Granite Properties generously donated fans to our seniors, providing instant relief from the heat. -Toyota Motor North America donated $10,000 for our heat exhaustion kits (hand fans) which are being distributed to help seniors stay safe and cool during this intense weather. A team from Tomes Auto Group delivered AC units to us ensuring that our senior citizens have access to cool environments.

All it takes now is you.

“Our seniors need you and we can't do it without volunteers,” Jones said.

For more information on how to volunteer, click here.