Local volunteers with the Geauga County Department on Aging came together during the early morning hours of Christmas to help provide a little holiday joy to seniors in the community by delivering a meal and a little social interaction at the same time. Jessica Boalt the Director of the Department o n Aging shows what is included with each meal that goes out to seniors during their holiday meal delivery program. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald) Different bags decorated by local school children are lined up ready to be filled with a hot meal that will be delivered to seniors. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald) Jessica Boalt, director of the Department on Aging, was busy overseeing volunteers as they were putting together 125 meals containing trays of green beans, potatoes and a slice of ham before sending them out to be paired with placements and silverware sets and personalized greeting cards made by school kids. Volunteers, staff, and family members form a line to safely package meals before they are delivered to area seniors. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald) She said that people who signed up to be delivery drivers usually provide a little bit more than just a meal by being a friendly face during the holiday. “For someone home and alone on the holiday is difficult, especially if they don’t have a nutritious meal that so many of us are enjoying,” Boalt said. “So, it’s a privilege for us to be able to come in and just give a couple hours of our time on Thanksgiving and Christmas to tell someone they are cared about and give someone a hot meal. “Our volunteers are absolutely amazing. Our community has such a wonderful response that we have to turn volunteers away and just the interactions that our volunteers have with those that are home alone make them feel extra special.” “We are blessed and we are privileged that we are able to have our holidays with our families and our loved ones at home so just to give back to our seniors is very meaningful to us.” Josh Burton, the Special Projects coordinator for the Department of Aging, said that they have many of the same people each year for sign up for meal delivery but that they were always looking to add more people to the list. “I can’t say enough about our drivers that come in and do these deliveries,” Burton said. “Because, often times, they do spend time with those seniors when they drop off because they are volunteering for the right reasons. It’s not about them — they want to do something to help somebody in our community. “It’s also letting people know that they are not forgotten,” Burton said. “Because if you are by yourself during the holiday, the darkness can get on you. And knowing that you are not forgotten that people do care, can do a lot for folks… that’s what public service is about. It’s above us, we really want to try and look out for the community and really honor that idea of taking care of the neighbors.” Bags keep cold items cold as volunteers line up to fill paper bags with meals for area seniors. (Frank Mecham- The News-Herald) He said that they have 32 cars coming to shepherd meals to waiting seniors with each car possibly being a single person, or even a whole family who decided to start their holiday with volunteerism. “We typically get the same people every year, so it’s become a tradition for them too, which is really nice,” Burton said. “It goes to show that there are a lot of people in our community, on a normal day, wouldn’t have a personal interaction. “And that’s something that Home Delivered Meals Program does on a daily basis. Not only is it a meal but it’s a personal interaction that can be wonders for someone’s demeanor, morale, or psyche.” He said that their department offers free transportation to doctors visits, home safety programs, and other services that seniors might not know exist for them but that they could find out more by contacting them directly. “It doesn’t cost to be registered with the Department on Aging, and I would say we would like to have those tax dollars start paying people back a little bit,” Burton said. “So, as many services that we can provide for folks we will. To me, it’s a very rewarding opportunity to be part of the department. “I love working with seniors, you never know the stories you are going to hear and there is so much to learned from their experiences in life and making them feel seen and heard is important.” More information on the different services that the Geauga County Department on Aging can be found on its website departmentonaging.geauga.oh.gov or by calling 440-279-2130. Newbury and Burton residents may call 1-888-714-0006. ...read more read less