Polly Rosenberg: Meals on Wheels saved my father

To the editor:

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, my father, David Rosenberg, had taken a very bad fall in his kitchen and was able to crawl to his bedroom, where he tried to reach for his phone. He was able to reach his phone, but he hit the wrong button and it went to a busy signal.

It wasn't until the next morning around 11 a.m. when the Meals on Wheels came to his house in Berlin to deliver his meal. This is when the delivery individual found him lying on his bedroom floor. This individual did not panic and knew what to do, and that was to call 911 and try to keep my father calm.

Many of us either take it for granted or do not pay attention to all the services the elderly receive. The Meals on Wheels organization may have fallen into that category. It certainly had for me until Sept. 18, when the delivery individual found my father lying on his bedroom floor.

It is well known that Meals on Wheels is one of the largest non-profit national organizations, which depend upon local charities and agencies as well as donations from individual clients.

This service is not only available for our elderly, but it also serves those who may have become seriously ill or may be disabled. 

These individuals may be unable to prepare their own meals. Those who receive this service are not only provided with nutritious meals, but when the meals are delivered, there is another set of eyes for someone to check on those individuals.

I have had the privilege to witness this program at two different senior centers near my residency in North Carolina.

It has had a profound effect on those seniors who do attend the local senior centers' activities and have their lunch-time meals catered by Meals on Wheels at these centers. It has become a time where they are not only having their meals, but they are socializing and enjoying each other's company.

For me and my sisters, Robin and Carolyn, we cannot express our gratitude for not only the meals that are delivered to our father, Monday through Friday, but we are very thankful that the Meals on Wheels delivery individual who found our father and did not panic. He knew what to do and remained calm as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. For us, Meals on Wheels is more than an organization that delivers meals, it has been another individual who checks up on our father.

Polly Rosenberg 

Holly Ridge, N.C.