Joan Mendlesohn pauses to take a telephone call at the Independence Township Senior Citizens Center. It concerns an individual who hasn’t been home to receive her Meals on Wheels box lunch.
She immediately calls the Older Persons Commission in Rochester, where people would follow up to make sure the person was alright.
It’s part of the regular routine for the coordinator of the local Meals on Wheels program.
‘It’s a health check? in addition to a hot meal delivered to the homes of elderly in the community, and Mendlesohn loves being the local coordinator.
‘It’s a wonderful program,? she said. ‘I’m so glad they have it here.?
A Chicago area native (who quietly admits to still being a Blackhawks fan), she moved to the Clarkston area when her daughter’s family came here about 10 years ago.
She got involved with senior center programs almost literally by walking through the door.
‘All my friends were back home, so I decided I would come here and meet new people,? she said.
Not only did she meet new people, she also started serving the site lunch at the senior center. About eight years ago, she was hired by Independence Township Parks and Recreation to coordinate the Meals on Wheels.
Hot food is delivered in bulk by OPC to the senior center, and Mendlesohn supervises volunteers who package the food and drivers who deliver it to some 33 people daily and about 10 on weekends.
‘The volunteers are wonderful people,? she said. ‘I don’t know what I would do without them.?
It’s an interactive program. The workers often get thank you notes from the homebound seniors, and outside groups sometimes donate things to put in the meal boxes (a local church, for example, recently donated Valentine’s candy to the program).
Even on holidays, OPC has ways to deliver meals (sometimes in frozen form), and Mendlesohn said area restaurants have been kind enough to donate food for special holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
Although she wishes the senior center kitchen could actually prepare the food (a lack of grant money has prevented that), Mendlesohn said there is no waiting list. Anyone with information about someone older than 60 who cannot get up and about may call to add people to the list.
A donation is requested for the services, but ability to pay is not a requirement, she said, reflecting the philosophy, ‘In Independence Township, nobody goes hungry.?
Even before she helped with the meals program, Mendlesohn was a faithful worker at the Independence Township Library. She started as a volunteer, until the Area Agency for the Agency provided a budget to pay her minimum wage.
She answers the telephone, calls people who have placed special orders and reminds folks who have signed up for special programs.
‘I love the work,? she said. ‘It’s so gratifying.?
Along the way, Library Director Molly Lynch taught her how to use a computer, and now Mendlesohn is helping with genealogy research.
In more direct service to senior citizens, Mendlesohn is proud of the free delivery of large print books to participants in the Meals on Wheels program.
What she calls the Books-to-Go program allows seniors to order either specific books or books in specific categories. Volunteer drivers deliver books along with the meals, and seniors are never charged overdue fines.
She believes in reading anyway, but is especially concerned for shut-ins.
‘These poor people who are homebound, they look out the window and see dead trees and dirty snow,? she said. ‘How much TV can you watch??
While she enjoys occasional trips to Chicago to visit old friends and other family members, Mendlesohn said she enjoys living with her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren. Their accomplishments give her joy, and she boasts of achievements such as her granddaughter’s recently landing of the lead role in ‘Annie? with the Lakeland Players.
Her service to the community is also part of the joy, and she said the ‘positive attitude? of the community is worth it.
‘The people are very friendly,? she said. ‘I don’t have a problem with anybody. It’s a wonderful community.?
For more information on the local Meals on Wheels program or the library’s home delivery program, please call the Independence Township Senior Citizens Center at (248) 625-8231.