PORTLAND, Oregon — Portland is expected to hit triple-digit temperatures in the coming days, which is a critical time to check in on vulnerable people including seniors.
“We are dealing with people who often don’t have a big village,” said Brianna Winningham, the Meals On Wheels Operations Manager. “So, we are trying to be their village.”
Nonprofit Meals On Wheels has a mission to bring nutritious foods to in-need seniors year-round. In extreme weather events like the one this weekend, they also prioritize making one-on-one connections with those at risk.
Winningham tells KGW that about 10% of this week’s shipments will come with something extra: cooling fans.
“I wanted to get active in the community and help our seniors,” said Jackie Wilcox, a Meals On Wheels Volunteer.
Wilcox is one of the hundreds of volunteers who help make this all happen, and takes pride in connecting with the people they serve as extreme heat is in the forecast.
“It’s important to have that one-on-one because I can ask them questions,” said Wilcox. “Like ‘How are you doing in this heat? Do you have resources for cooling?’”
Data shows about 50% of the home-bound seniors the non-profit serves live alone and often lack human interactions — especially with temperatures heating up.
“And what that means is when there is a heat emergency, they don’t have anybody to come and check on them and say how are you doing? And then puzzle through like, ‘what could we do?’” said Winningham.
So on Wednesday, 1,500 bags filled with seven frozen meals, fresh fruit and a sweet treat traveled from the non-profit’s kitchens across the Portland metro and into people’s homes. This is especially helpful for people like Brandy Miller, who is wheel-chair bound, and live with her mom Linda.
“Meals for her, just getting them into the microwave — fast and easy," said Brandy. "It is so much better. Especially with the heat. We’re not gonna want to do a lot of cooking.”
She shares she’s thankful for everything Meals On Wheels does for her family, bringing them food for the next week alongside a cooling fan. She is also thankful for volunteers checking in on them ahead of the heat wave.
"My across-street neighbors are very, very friendly and they check on us also," said Brandy. "So it’s very important to check on your elders, even if you’re not elderly, but if you’re disabled or just a neighbor.”
Meals On Wheels is always looking for volunteers. If you're not able to donate your time, you can support their effort by donating new or gently used fans. You can donate them to any Meals on Wheels location.