Brooks, along with other paid staff and volunteers, delivers meals as part of the Meals on Wheels program.
“I needed to do something to give back to the community and this is where I came,” Brooks said.
Brooks’ mother also received Meals on Wheels, another reason she likes to participate in the program.
The retired Temple school district employee and area native has been delivering meals for two years.
However, Brooks does more than deliver meals to almost a dozen Temple residents five days a week.
“Getting out there and talking to the clients, you learn a lot within the five minutes you’re there,” she said.
It should only take about 45 minutes to complete the route, but Brooks says she likes to take more time to talk to those who receive the meals; and there is a lot to discuss. Clients may talk about their back pain, new pair of shoes, hair appointments or holiday plans to their visitor.
The first person Brooks delivers to is 93-year-old Corine Miller, who says she enjoys the taste of the delivered meals.
“They know what I like,” Miller said. “I love it; I appreciate it.”
The last person on Brooks’ route is Ruth Boldra, 78. Brooks puts the hot meal on a tray for Boldra and brings it to her seat.
“When I first started coming here, she said, ‘You didn’t know you’d be a waitress too,’” Brooks said.
However, even though the food may taste bland to her at times, Boldra says she appreciates Brooks’ sunny disposition.
“She’s the light of my life everyday - we need that,” Boldra said.
In between Miller and Boldra, Brooks visits eight other clients and handles each one differently.
Some clients prefer to have their meals simply dropped off; other clients ask if Brooks can bring in their mail. Regardless, Brooks makes it a point to visit with each client every time she sees him or her.
“We may be the only people they see during the day,” she said.
Meals on Wheels clients may not have someone to help them go to the grocery store or cook.
“Seventy percent of clients say that our meal is their primary source of food; without that meal they wouldn’t have anything at all,” said Tama Shaw, executive director of Hill Country Community Action, one of 28 agencies served by United Way of Central Texas. The United Way is currently in its fundraising campaign, with a goal of $1.625 million.
The cost of each meal is $3, and the Meals on Wheels program delivers 261 days a year. In total, it costs $783 to feed one client for one year.
More than 87,000 meals are delivered within Bell Country each year, and the Temple area makes up nearly half that figure, Shaw said.
The Temple division of the program serves 200 residents daily and 1,000 meals per week, local director Patsy McCurdy said.
In addition to monetary donations, the program needs volunteers to deliver food.
Last Friday, the Temple area did not have any volunteers for delivery, using only a few staff members to cover 200 clients.
Those who participate in Meals on Wheels may forge friendships with the clients they visit, or deliver to people who once served them.
“We treat them like family; they’re my grandmas and grandpas,” McCurdy said. “I have a 100-year-old client who was my Sunday school teacher.”
Brooks visits one client who offers muffins and reminds her to put on a coat and hat. “I call her little grandma,” she said.
Both McCurdy and Brooks participate in the Meals on Wheels program in hopes that someone will help them like they have when they get older.
Overall, the program delivers more than food for Meals on Wheels clients.
“We provided a little security for someone to visit with for a short time,” Shaw said. “It’s very worthwhile.”
Those wanting to donate money may drop it off at the Meals on Wheels office located in Temple on 15 N. Second St., or mail donations to the Hill Country Community Action office at P.O. Box 846 San Saba TX 76877. Those who want to volunteer in the Temple area may call 778-4221.
For information or to donate to the United Way, call 254-778-8616.
