Jill Schramm/MDN Preparing trays of meals to be sealed and delivered to Meals on Wheels clients Thursday are, from left, Codie Miller, Sophia Berg and Jim Almond. Meals are prepared at the Minot Commission on Aging.

The impact of the Minot Commission on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program impressed local leaders who took the opportunity Thursday to help deliver meals to community seniors.

The commission celebrated March for Meals by inviting participation from organizations that have supported the program, including the Minot City Council, Ward County Commission, Minot Area Community Foundation. St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation and Souris Valley United Way.

“We haven’t done it the last three years because of COVID, so this is our first year doing this again,” Roger Reich, Commission on Aging executive director, said of March for Meals. “This is just a way of making an awareness for the senior meal program and senior hunger throughout Minot but also throughout the United States.”

There were 365 turkey and mashed potato meals delivered just before noon on Thursday.

“That’s all homemade. Cooks come in at 5 o’clock every day,” Reich said.“Everything is from scratch.” Menus are approved by dietitians and are created to provide about a third of a day’s calories for a senior.

“It’s a good program. It’s well worth the amount of time it takes in getting meals out,” Reich said.

One of five city council members who participated in deliveries, Lisa Olson said she was most impressed by the volunteers, a view commonly shared by other participants.

“They’re very passionate and dedicated toward their jobs. They know each of the people that they’re delivering to and have a personal connection,” Minot City Manager Harold Stewart said.

“I guess I knew this already, but it was good to see the interaction the people delivering meals had with people. You could tell the folks they were delivering to were pretty excited to see somebody,” added council member Scott Burlingame.

“I love that the volunteers are given the power to not just deliver meals but stay for five minutes and talk,” said council member Carrie Evans. “Because it’s not just the meals. It really is the interaction.”

The program can make a difference between being able to stay in one’s home or having to move into an assisted living facility, she said. Burlingame said he heard that comment directly from one meals client, who stated his family wanted him to move into assisted living but because of the meal program, he doesn’t have to.

The March for Meals experience also was an opportunity for local leaders to get acquainted with older residents.

“It’s a good way to care for and connect with our elderly,” Stewart said. “I met a lot of people who had military service or community service – people who helped make the community what it is today.”

Ward County Commissioner Shelly Weppler, president of St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation, said she discovered shared community connections that led to enjoyable conversations with seniors she met. It had been a while since she participated in a delivery, so it was a reminder of how many people in the community need the assistance, she said.

City council member Mark Jantzer didn’t participate in deliveries but joined the seniors at the congregate meal site to show support for the program.

“This is a great thing that happens in our community, and it’s kind of under the radar,” he said.

Minot Commission on Aging has about 16 routes that go out every day with the help of volunteers, Reich said. Each route has about 12-15 households. In addition, staff deliver to Henry Towers and other senior living facilities.

Client numbers in the program have increased significantly in the past three years, partly due to seniors staying home more since COVID and rising costs, Reich said.

“Inflation has caused seniors to look into the program,” he said. “There’s additional costs – medical costs and prescription drug costs, just going to the grocery store. This helps them cut some of those types of costs.”