Meals on Wheels braves cold to lend a hand

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – LifeCare Alliance's Meals on Wheels program continues through the cold weather and volunteers serve an important role in addition to dropping off food. Thousands of meals are delivered through the program each day. Most of the deliveries are made by volunteers like Jim Kimnach. "How are you surviving the cold," Kimnach [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – LifeCare Alliance's Meals on Wheels program continues through the cold weather and volunteers serve an important role in addition to dropping off food.

Thousands of meals are delivered through the program each day. Most of the deliveries are made by volunteers like Jim Kimnach.

"How are you surviving the cold," Kimnach asked one of the clients as he delivered a meal.

During the extreme cold, volunteers also check to make sure LifeCare Alliance's patients are safely staying warm, according to Tricia Strahler, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the nonprofit. She said those check-ins have proved to be a big help.

“They’ve been lifesaving. We at different times have found clients who were locked out of their homes during sub-zero weather," she said. "We have found clients whose heat was off and they had their ovens open and were trying to warm their house with their oven, what a dangerous situation.”

Kimnach has volunteered with LifeCare for 10 years and currently delivers meals three days a week. He's dealt with the chilly temperatures two days this week. He said he knows the meals are needed to the weather doesn't bother him.

"It doesn't matter what the weather is you just have be prepared for it," he said.

The efforts don't go unnoticed. Several of the clients on Kimnach's Wednesday route showed their appreciation. 

"They need the meals. I started doing this as a payback. They delivered Meals on Wheels for my mother when she was in the last years of her life, so that's what really got me started. Then I saw the need so I felt it was something I really wanted to do for the rest of my life." Kimnach said.

LifeCare Alliance is always looking for more volunteers. Those interested in getting involved can find information here.