News Releases CentiMark CareersCentiMark Cares Company Organization Company History CentiMark Literature CentiMark Images
News Release: CentiMark: One of Top 50 Private Companies in Pittsburgh
CentiMark Golfs for Children's Charity Event:
Public Relations:
Kathy Slencak
P: 724-514-8572
F: 724-743-6010
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09011/940602-58.stm
Sunday, January 11, 2009
By Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Meals on Wheels volunteers hustle to pack meals for delivery from their new facility in the Peters Township Volunteer Fire Company.
The Peters Township Meals on Wheels program is now equipped to serve three times as many clients, thanks to a generous donation from a local company and a new location on East McMurray Road.
The 34-year-old community program had been operating out of a church until last weekend, when volunteers and Boy Scouts moved the operation to the Peters Volunteer Fire Department.
The rent has climbed from $300 to about $3,500 a month, but the program now has a completely renovated, 5,000-square-foot social hall, equipped with tens of thousands of dollars worth of new kitchen equipment.
The rent goes to the volunteer fire department, which uses the funds to purchase fire equipment and for training.
For volunteer Director Susan Ruether, it's a dream made possible by local company CentiMark.
"It's fabulous, and they love to do it," she said, speaking of employees of the Southpointe-based commercial and industrial roofing contractor, who volunteer as drivers every Friday.
A company official, who has asked to remain anonymous, has donated thousands to the effort, including helping out with the new rent expenses.
"Everything is underwritten by CentiMark," Ms. Ruether said of the new kitchen facilities, which include stainless steel appliances, a walk-in freezer and cooler, work stations for volunteers and even an office and lounge.
The program includes 130 volunteers who prepare meals for about 110 clients who are unable to shop for groceries or cook meals.
As gas prices rose, along with the cost of home heating oil, Ms. Ruether said her client list has expanded. And, with the population continuing to age, Ms. Ruether said she expects the need to keep increasing.
Even though the program started with just six clients, Ms. Ruether expects that number to swell to 300 within the next five to 10 years.
"We've gone up steadily," she said.
The new center should be able to accommodate at least 300 clients and possibly as many as 500.
Right now, the program runs seven routes per day to destinations in Peters, Nottingham, Finleyville, Canonsburg, and other communities. Although other areas have Meals on Wheels programs, the Peters center offers diabetic meals, along with soft diet foods.
"We go all over the place," Ms. Ruether said.
Nutritious, low-sodium meals, along with special items, such as Bethel Bakery cakes donated from the Dairy Bar, also make the program very popular.
Each client gets a birthday card signed by volunteers, along with a special cake once a year.
The reactions are often touching, Ms. Ruether said, especially from seniors who are alone on their birthdays.
"One man told us,' "My family doesn't even remember my birthday,"' she said.
Volunteers do more than deliver meals.
They are often the only lifeline to the outside world for many clients, who enjoy the visits and appreciate the socialization, even if it's only once a day.
"I think it makes a difference in people's lives when someone stops to talk with them," Ms. Ruether said.
Certain situations can also present challenges for volunteers, who occasionally have to contact social service agencies for seniors who are possibly living in danger, including those with dementia who need more care.
But volunteers rarely interfere with those who are living in less-than-perfect homes, so long as they are healthy and happy.
"It's not necessarily ideal, but who are we to say they can't live where they want to be?" Ms. Ruether said.
The routes are expanded as new volunteers join the ranks, and now include meals from Monday through Friday, with a weekend supplement for those in need.
For $3 a day, or $15 a week, clients receive a hot meal that includes meat, starches, and plenty of vegetables.
On a visit last week, clients were being served chicken a la king, peas and carrots, coleslaw, baked apples and pastries donated by Panera Bread. Soup and milk also were included.
The meals are cooked by head chef Lisa Owens, who begins preparing them before 7 a.m. each day. They also can include spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, meatloaf, pasta salad and stew.
For those who opt for two meals a day -- at a cost of $18 per week -- sandwiches, juice and cookies also are delivered.
Volunteers are able to keep the meals hot with insulated bags and a mobile oven, also provided by CentiMark.
The program stays afloat through revenue from clients, and donations from residents, businesses, and civic groups, including a garden club that donated money and made much-loved Steelers fleece scarves for clients.
Ms. Ruether said her group works with food banks, which have seen a sharp spike in need lately, along with other organizations, to be sure no hungry person falls through the cracks.
"We tried to plan frugally, for at least 300 and maybe more," she said of the new center.
Residents and those interested in volunteering can call the center at 724-969-1000 or attend an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 23.
Janice Crompton can be reached at jcrompton@post-gazette.com or 724-223-0156.