EDMOND —
As community needs continue to grow, Edmond Mobile Meals is relying on Edmond volunteers and the generosity of the city’s residents to help finance food purchases and provide small birthday items to brighten a shut-in’s birthday.
As a former volunteer, new Edmond Mobile Meals director Piper Riggs understands what giving of personal time means, and she said she receives more than she gives in the friendships she makes and the interaction she shares with the clients.
“Volunteers are the heart of Edmond Mobile Meals,” said former Edmond Mobile Meals director Teresa Hoehner. “They are the eyes and ears of our program. Because of these extraordinary people, the homebound of our community experience a hot nutritious meal, the kindness of someone who listens and a quick visit with a neighbor who cares.”
Meal Delivery, food preparation and packaging are performed on a daily basis, but other volunteer opportunities include office work, cleaning and maintenance, grant research and writing, fundraising and publicity including photography.
“We especially need volunteer drivers on Fridays,” Hoehner said, “but we can always use drivers and driver subs as well as cook volunteers and substitutes. Some knowledge of the kitchen is useful, but training will be provided.”
Various groups fund EMM
With no age or income restrictions, Edmond Mobile Meals is partially funded by the meal recipients Monday through Friday. Although most clients are senior citizens, there are some younger people with illnesses or disabilities.
Donations also come from local churches and businesses, as well as from individuals in the community. Funding comes from various social and civic organizations and foundations including a permanent endowment from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation as well as funding from the Kirkpatrick Foundation and the Feinstein Foundation.
More than $40,000 came from the Common Thread donation made by the three Edmond high schools last year as part of their community fundraising efforts.
“We can’t thank the schools enough and want them to know that part of their funds were used for the meals themselves,” Hoehner said.
Additional funding comes from the Edmond Senior Foundation, as well as grants from the City of Edmond, the Edmond Women’s Club and the Community Development Block Grant.
Commercial appliances including a freezer, a roaster oven, an immersion mixer and a microwave are on Edmond Mobile Meals’ wish list in addition to office supplies and birthday gifts for clients receiving daily meals.
Edmond Mobile Meals is a 501(c)3 designated non-profit organization. Contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to Edmond Mobile Meals and sent to: Edmond Mobile Meals, 25 W. Third, Edmond, OK 73003. To make a donation to a specific person or if you would like to donate online, go to edmondmobilemeals.org/donate.
For more information, to make a donation or to volunteer call Mobile Meals at 341-3111.
Edmond Mobile Meals' Wish List:
Needed items for EMM recipients’ birthdays and office supplies include:
Post-it notes (small and medium sizes);
Birthday gift bags (about 8-9 inches tall and 4-6 inches across in size);
Birthday gifts for recipients (flashlights, night lights, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, emery boards, tissue paper, pocket size Kleenex, puzzle books, no candles or glass);
Toner cartridges — HP 128A black, cyan, magenta, yellow (mainly black)-note: they cost about $70 each; inkjet printer refills — HP45 (black);
Paper (letter size); #10 envelopes (security);
#10 window (security) envelopes self-sealing;
Black Sharpies, 3 staplers, daily activity log notebooks from Staples;
Wal-Mart, Staples or Office Depot gift cards;
Zippered sandwich bags/snack bags, zippered freezer bags (gallon & quart), zippered storage bags (gallon & quart);
Postage stamps;
Industrial 3-prong extension cord (6 foot minimum);
Volunteer newsletter writer; volunteer website manager;
Recurring monthly donation to sponsor recipients who cannot contribute for meals;
Scotch tape refills; Clorox disinfecting wipes; paper towels (regular rolls); Center pull towels (from Sam’s); disposable gloves; Scotchbrite heavy duty scrub pads (20 per box) from Sam’s; white plastic carry-out (Thank-you bags) from Sam’s; coffee and coffee creamer for volunteers; commercial trash can liners-Sam’s 320 per box (clear-33 gallon size); commercial trash can liners-Sam’s 1,000 per box (clear-10 gallon size);
14 clear plastic vertical 5”x7” sign holders; paper plates; clear packaging tape;
3-4 oscillating floor fans;
2 handheld calculators with large buttons;
Edmond Mobile Meals also needs the following items and asks those interested to contact director Piper Riggs:
First aid kit that mounts on wall;
Display boards;
Commercial roaster oven;
Commercial immersion mixer;
Salad dryer, 5 gal. manual;
Projector and screen for presentations;
Coffee cart/stand with cabinet doors for storing supplies;
NSF commercial microwave.
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