Meals On Wheels

Like many, I have always harbored a secret ambition to own a restaurant. I guess only good fortune has kept that dream from coming true. Since coming to Prescott however, an outlet for that passion was found when Carolyn volunteered us to work for Meals On Wheels.


Every Thursday morning we drive the Orange Route for Prescott's MOW program, delivering meals to about 20 people on the south side of town. Our route takes us over hill and dale and through the woods. Often to some pretty remote locations.


A couple of the homes we go to are entirely outside Prescott in the surrounding national forest.





The program delivers meals to folks who need some level of assistance. It also provides an opportunity to check daily on people who live alone or who are in poor health. It's a good day when everyone is home and able to get around.


We have really enjoyed getting to know the people on our route. One of our favorites is Frances. She is 91 year old sweetie who lives alone in her trailer. Each week she proudly tells us that she is "still here" and brings us up to date on the health of her son who is 67 and lives out of state.


Another person we enjoying visiting with is Evelyn. Evelyn was a Meals On Wheels volunteer for a number of years. Her health no longer permits that but she likes to catch up on the news each time we come by. She shared a bit of her life with us today. Her husband was a Canadian who obtained US citizenship so he could join the military here.

Another benefit of driving around the area for Meals On Wheels is that we get to do some sightseeing. You never know what you're going to encounter. Today as we were approaching Evelyn's house, Carolyn spotted some javelinas in the front yard of one of her neighbors. There were six of them just sunning themselves on this beautiful day.


Later we saw this tassel-eared squirrel. I'm intriqued by them because they look so different from what we were used to in the Midwest. They are grey with white bellies and have tufts of hair on their ears. They only live in isolated mountainous areas of Arizona, New Mexico, southeast Utah, and Colorado.


Last week we had a deer stop in the road in front of us until he had satisified his curiosity with us and ambled off into the woods. We didn't see him today but we did see Comet here still relaxing after the Christmas holidays.



We also get to meet all of the dogs. We always deliver doggie treats with our meals. Dobey has become a steadfast friend. He loves all the attention we can give him.


Roger, on the otherhand, only comes out when we are in the car. When we get out he runs for the pet door; when we leave he comes out to bark at us. We've given him a box and a half of Milk Bones to this point but so far he's not showing any love.



Twenty miles and twenty friends later, we're done. It's time to return the hot food and cold food containers, complete the paperwork, then call it a day.




Next Thursday we'll be back. We hope everyone's well and anxious to see us coming down the road.