County battles hunger
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In fact, statistics show that Tennessee ranks 10th in the nation in the number of households that deal with hunger, according to figures from the Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis University.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that there is an army out there whose main mission is the battle against hunger. The soldiers in this army may not wear battle fatigues or brandish automatic rifles, but they are no less determined to defeat their enemy.
“There is no reason anyone in Warren County should go hungry,” said Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) county coordinator Gloria Cole. “Not with all the programs we have available here.”
Those include the Warren County Food Bank and Meals on Wheels, along with federally funded programs like the commodities program and food stamps. The Senior Center also offers meals on site for local seniors, and many churches also maintain their own food banks.
Cole said even though UCHRA works to publicize its programs, some people aren’t aware of the services available.
As a result, Cole says it’s important to get the word out.
“One thing I worry about is the children,” Cole said, noting some parents may be unaware of the programs, leery of the paperwork, or unsure of whether they qualify. “It’s really easy,” Cole said. According to Cole, most people who are having financial problems due to losing their jobs or physical disabilities, will be able to qualify for one program or another.
Another segment of the population at risk of going hungry are the elderly, but once again, there is a program tailor made to help these Warren County residents. It’s called Meals on Wheels. This is a program where tasty and nutritious meals are delivered daily to local residents who are, for whatever reason, unable to prepare meals for themselves.
According to director Martha Pepper the program has been in operation since 1977 and is now delivering meals to some 130 clients and has a long waiting list of people who want to join the program.
“Most of our people are 60 years and older and they’re living on fixed incomes,” Pepper said. “The average income of our folks is like $555 a month.” With rent, utilities and medical bills, not much is left over at the end of the month for food, Pepper said.
“So with us taking in one meal a day, then that’s relieving them of having to buy that many groceries anyway.”
The menus are provided by the UCHRA and the federal government.
“They work very hard making sure that they’re getting all the nutrients that they need each week,” Pepper said. The menus are changed over three month cycles so clients are offered a varied diet.
Pepper said the organization does more than just deliver food though.
“We don’t just take the meals in, we make sure everybody’s okay,” she said.
Many of the people they serve find the Meals on Wheels visits to be one of the bright spots in their day, as client Catherine Biles pointed out.
“It’s the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me,” Biles said. “They are so sweet and so good to me.”
Though the government provides funds, Pepper said she couldn’t do it without the help of the many volunteers in the program.
“I’ve got 100 volunteers and they’re fantastic,” she said, “but I always need more volunteers,” she added.
Meals on Wheels volunteers include everyone from “Hotdog Man” Brian Curran to McMinnville policeman Mike Hainey.
Hainey said he got involved for pretty simple reasons.
“Just to help out and so some volunteer work,” he said. Hainey said the program is important, as evidenced by the reaction of the clients.
“They’re very appreciative,” he said. “It’s not only just them getting the meals, but doing welfare checks on some of the folks that have illnesses and injuries. Just sort of checking up on them.”
For more information on these programs contact the UCHRA at 473-6652, Meals on Wheels at 473-3514 or 507-3514, or the Senior Center at 473-6559.