Mobile Meals of Salem hosts meeting

Satff report

SALEM

Board members, volunteers and donors of Mobile Meals of Salem recently met at the Salem Regional Medical Center for their 43rd annual meeting.

Special recognition was given to past presidents Jean McCulloch, Laurel Todd and Jackie Hergenrother.

Sandy Blankenship, coordinator, explained that since 1976, the volunteers have delivered more than 309,584 meals and have not missed a single delivery date.

Recognition was given to Pam Kiko, Fred Hoff, Cheryl Hess, Joe Henderson and Doris Nuckols for more than 100 hours of volunteer time.

Debbie Pietrzak, vice president of marketing/planning of the Salem Regional Medical Center, reported celebrating the hospital’s relationship with the University Hospital Siedman Cancer Center and the radiology department receiving a new 3-D PET CT scanner, one of few in the nation. She also expressed her appreciation of the mobile meals members.

President Geoff Goll extended his thanks on behalf of the board to the 31 volunteers who donated more than 1,724 hours during 2017, delivering more than 4,924 meals. Goll extended his personal thanks to Salem Regional Medical Center and its Charitable Contributions Committee, LCBA Branch 654, Salem Rotary Club Foundation and the Salem Community Foundation for financial support of the program. Future contributions in honor or memory of someone can be mailed to Mobile Meals of Salem, c/o Salem Regional Medical Center, 1995 E. State Street, Salem, OH 44460.

Goll acknowledged the kindness of Salem Community Hospital, particularly its food and nutrition department, which has been supportive of the Mobile Meals recipients and volunteer drivers.

Atty. Barbara Plummer, chairwoman of the nominating committee, nominated Goll, Carol Patterson, Laurel Todd, Jean McCulloch, Jackie Hergenrother, Ann Reed and Gina Dermotta for two-year terms on the board of trustees.

After the meeting, the new board of trustees met. Goll was re-elected president; Plummer, vice president; Todd, treasurer; and Karen Sebo, secretary.

Mobile Meals of Salem is seeking more volunteers. Though the organization operates five days a week, Monday through Friday, volunteers may donate any amount of time. Volunteers meet at Salem Regional Medical Center to pick up meals and deliver them, usually in teams of two, to clients on one of three routes. The driving time for each of the routes is about one hour. Volunteers receive a free lunch provided by the hospital after completing deliveries.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call 330-332-2160.