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Community Corner

Tesei Delivers for Greenwich Meals-on-Wheels

First Selectman participates in National Mayors for Meals Day


Wednesday was the first day of spring.  And, in case you didn't know, it was also National Mayors for Meals Day.

Joining 1,500 mayors across the country to raise awareness of senior nutrition, Greenwich's First Selectman, Peter Tesei, hit the road to deliver a prepared lunch and dinner to a longtime neighbor he hadn't previously met.

Flanked by Greenwich Meals-on-Wheels president Bob Phillips and board member Dr. Marilyn Cahn, Tesei made the delivery in person to John Asmanis who lives just down the block from Town Hall on Field Point Road.

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According to Meals-on-Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), 8.3 million seniors in the US face the threat of hunger. MOWAA's mission is to end senior hunger in America by the year 2020.

The Greenwich Meals-on-Wheels program, which has served local residents for 53 years, delivers about 100 meals a day. According to Phillips, the service is often the lynchpin in seniors' ability to remain in their homes. In fact, for residents like Asmanis, unable to cook for himself after suffering a stroke, the prepared meals delivery service makes all the difference.

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With just one paid member of staff, Greenwich Meals-On-Wheels boasts a long roster of dedicated volunteers, including Phillips and Cahn, as well as a team of drivers who divvy up a total of eight different routes.

Each morning at 9:30, the meals arrive at the Greenwich Meals-on-Wheels hub, in the annex behind the Women's Club on Maple Ave. The caterer, Creative Culinary Services, with a kitchen in Norwalk, also prepares meals for Parsonage Cottage, Hill House and Greenwich Adult Day Care.

According to Phillips, for years the cooking was done in the Meals-on-Wheels space on Maple Ave. About a year ago the non-profit switched over to Creative Culinary Services, which Phillips describes as a "first-class caterer."

Once the caterer brings the meals to Greenwich, volunteers fan out across town, making deliveries between 10:30-and 11:30am.

"Not even the snowstorms or recent extreme weather prevented the deliveries," said Phillips. "We have volunteers with SUVs when there's snow."

The private nonprofit 501(c)3, Greenwich Meals-on-Wheels, charges just $7.00 for a daily combined lunch-plus-dinner delivery, and is funded entirely through donations. "We do an annual fundraising campaign each fall," said Phillips.

"People who want to give a contribution to an organization and have a direct impact should really consider Meals-on-Wheels," urged Tesei during Wednesday's visit to Asmanis on Field Point Road.

Asmanis, who served in the US Army and was stationed at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina, travels to the VA healthcare center in West Haven, and is grateful not to have to leave home for his meals. Having suffered a stroke, Asmanis is unable to cook for himself, but his sense of humor is in tact. "The apple is small today," he said to Phillps, with a wink. Asked how he likes the food, Asmans said, "The pasta is absolutely beautiful! And nutritious."

A variety of dietary requirements are accommodated. They offer diabetic meals with sugar-free desserts and can work around issues with food allergies. All meals are prepared with little salt. Customers are billed at the end of the month, and though there is no sliding scale per se, Greenwich Social Services provides some assistance on a case by case basis.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can mail a check to "Meals-on-Wheels of Greenwich" and mail to Greenwich Meals-on-Wheels, 89 Maple Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830.

"We're also always on the lookout for volunteer drivers," said Phillips. For information on volunteering click here or call (203) 869-1312.

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