file photo
BY BRETT CARROLL
STAFF WRITER |
PASCACK VALLEY COMMUNITY LIFE
Elderly residents around Pascack Valley can eat well thanks to the efforts of their local “Meals on Wheels” program, a service that delivers food to their doorsteps.
Meals on Wheels is a national organization that delivers food to elderly citizens who cannot drive to get food on their own. It is one of the oldest national food programs and there are chapters across every state.
The Westwood House, the senior living facility in the borough, is the Meals on Wheels chapter for Pascack Valley, and Jeanne Martin is the woman who runs and operates the program.
“I’ve been doing this for 11 years now,” Martin said during a delivery run the morning of Tuesday, March 8. “I was at Pascack Valley Hospital doing [Meals for Wheels] until it closed. I’ve been here for 8 years now.”
Most of the program is paid for through private grants and subsidies from the government, she said.
New Jersey Congressman Scott Garrett accompanied her that day for his biannual checkup on programs in New Jersey.
He was pleased to see the dedication and enthusiasm of Martin, and applauded the benefits of the program.
“This is a program that is helping a lot of people,” the Garrett said “There are so many people in this area that need this. I’m glad we have people like Jeanne who want to help and serve.”