Gratitude for Good Meals and Thoughtful Gestures

Mark, who is 79 and lives in West St. Paul, turned to Meals on Wheels for simple and straightforward assistance getting enough healthy food. Yet, it’s the things that come along with his meal service that have made a big impact.

When Mark received a birthday card signed by a Meals on Wheels volunteer, it was unexpected and meaningful.

“It kind of brightens my day,” he says. “It’s nice they put things like that in with the meals. Sometimes small things mean a lot to people.”

Mark called the folks at his local program, Northern Dakota County Meals on Wheels, to express his gratitude for the card. He wants everyone to know how much both the meals and thoughtful conversation and gestures from volunteers mean to him.

Unaware that Meals on Wheels was an option for him, Mark learned of the program during an appointment at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. He started receiving meals through the Veterans Meal Program, which identifies veterans who are at risk of hunger or social isolation and could benefit from Meals on Wheels.

“It’s giving me more balance in my diet and I’m just glad I have something to eat. When I do get something that’s really good, I appreciate it. I’m on a fixed income and basically living on Social Security,” he says.

Mark and his brother currently live together in the house they grew up in. Services like Meals on Wheels and chore programs offered through Beyond the Yellow Ribbon help them stay at home despite some mobility challenges.

“Everything helps and our house is paid for. I couldn’t afford to rent an apartment,” he says. “We’re lucky we can keep it going.”

While Mark was drafted during the Vietnam War, his military experience took an unexpected turn. A talented baseball player, he was selected for the Army’s all-star team and toured Europe – an opportunity he is grateful for. After completing his service, he returned home and became a teacher.

Mark was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma just seven years after returning. The treatment he received was successful in combating the cancer, but side effects led to psychological issues that caused him to lose his job. “I went through a lot of depression,” he says.

Mark eventually found meaning in coaching t-ball and working as a paraprofessional helping kids with educational challenges. He turned his own experience with learning challenges into a passion for helping children succeed.

Those experiences reinforced the importance of helping others – a lesson he carries with him today as he reflects on the people who supported him in the past and those who are helping him continue living independently at home.

“Invest in others and it comes back to you,” says Mark.

How You Can Help

Unfortunately, state funding for the Veterans Meal Program that serves veterans like Mark was not renewed last session, creating additional pressure on community-supported services. We hope funding for this program, which has helped connect more than 200 veterans to Meals on Wheels, will be reconsidered in the future.

In the meantime, support from individuals like you makes it possible for us to continue serving veterans who have benefited from this program. Your generosity helps ensure that veterans like Mark can continue receiving nutritious meals and the support they need to remain healthy and independent at home. Thank you for being part of the solution.

Help by making a donation or signing up to deliver meals.