Mobile Meals Serving Seniors to Make a Difference

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAOMA CITY -- A local organization is providing hot meals to those who might otherwise go hungry.

Volunteers from 68 churches in the Metro get together each week to help out seniors, with the Mobile Meals program. Twice a week the meals are prepared at Ridgecrest United Methodist church.

Organizers said older men and women might not be able to live at home if not for the volunteers who cook, pack up, and then deliver the warm food around Oklahoma County

"We have one woman in our project who is 102-years-old, And still living alonE and she couldn't do it without this," said Myrtle Clingenpeel, Mobile Meals Volunteer. "Most of the people that we serve, receive meals from some church, five or six times a week. So they have contact with an actual live person, who can check on their welfare."

Arazell Barnes is one of the seniors Mobile Meals checks on. She has lived alone since her husband passed away 30 years ago. Barnes receives lunch six days a week from various churches. She said the meals are a blessing because she can't stand long enough to prepare a balanced meal for herself.

"Sometimes there's enough for two meals. And if so, I can have it for the evening meal or I can save it for the next day," Barnes said.

Without the food, she said she wouldn't be able to stay in her home.

Mobile Meals has made a difference for each Oklahoman served.

"I enjoy meeting the people that we serve. I feel good that we can do things for them. And I think it's what our church is all about," Clingenpeel said.

Mobile Meals is funded with state and federal dollars. Local foundations, like the Oklahoma City Community Foundation have also granted the organization money to keep them operating.