Rotary Newsbriefs

print this page

                                                        Bingo 

            The Rotary Club of Highlands holds monthly bingo games on the first Thursday of each month in the Highlands Community Building from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Bingo is open to the community and proceeds are shared by the bingo winners and various area charities.

 -

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Rotary Club of Highlands

Home Delivered Meals

by Jodie Cook

Rotary's motto going back to the 1950's has been, "Service Above Self." Meals on Wheels, known in Macon County as Home Delivered Meals, provides a midday meal to people, who can't prepare a nutritious meal for themselves, generally due to health or age related medical issues.
Home Delivered Meals began in the Highlands area in September 1998 when Rotarian and then Mayor Buck Trott petitioned the Macon County Department on Aging to establish a program in Highlands. At the first organizational meeting Trott found a number of fellow Rotarians and eager volunteers to drive and deliver the meals. Home Delivered Meals had begun and quickly became known as "Meals."

In the decade that followed, Meals has seen over half of its meals delivered by Rotarians and spouses of Rotarians. Volunteers and Rotarians have become good friends and work as a group as they trade, swap and cover meal delivery days in this five-day a week program.
The Peggy Crosby Center initially handled the necessary paperwork that is now prepared by the Highlands Civic Center or Rec Park. After meals are picked-up from the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital and delivered, the documents are returned to the Rec Park.

Meals volunteers from Rotary have included Tony and Isabel Chambers, Pat Moore, Rick Siegel, Luther Turner, Buck Trott and David Rohrer. Rotarian spouses Caroline Cook and Mary Berry have been long time volunteers. Deliveries have been augmented by Rotarians Dave Jellison and Selwyn Chalker who work at the Rec Park and occasionally have filled-in during their lunch hour when the weather was extremely inclement or a last minute problem arose.

 
Two unique volunteers are Caroline Cook and George Henry who started delivering when Meals began and have continued weekly to this day.

Volunteers say the hot midday meal is only part of what Meals is about. They may be the only person their client sees and talks with. Volunteers also check and look to see that their client is okay. This is always a point of concern for the volunteers. Beginning with a smile and a warm meal clients and volunteers often become good friends.

The Rotary Club of Highlands has seen many of its members and spouses of members participate in Meals to the extent that Rotary gives meeting attendance credit to Rotarians when they deliver.
What are volunteers most proud of? "We've never missed a day."

....................................................................