Who is my Neighbor? Meals on Wheels in Orange County
It can be easy to miss seeing what’s in plain sight. Have you ever found your eyeglasses, safely perched on top of your head, after you have ransacked the house looking for them? It can also be easy to live, work, worship and pray in Hillsborough (or Chapel Hill, or Durham) and not see the people who are living in poverty, isolation, or medical need.
When the lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”, Luke’s Gospel tells us it was a test. Jesus first asks him what he knows (“Love God … love your neighbor”). Looking for a loophole, the lawyer asks the question that prompts Jesus to offer the parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable illustrates that a neighbor is anyone who needs help; there should be no barriers to mercy (Luke 10:25-37). Volunteering with Meals on Wheels Orange County is a way to engage our community to grow in hope, as we both both see our neighbors and show mercy by providing food.
I set out with Mary Ann Plambeck on a beautiful, chilly October morning to deliver her Meals on Wheels route. The pick-up process, which was led by other volunteers, including Glenn Sumner and Tom Anderson, ran like clockwork. As we drove, Mary Ann told me about everyone on her route; it was clear that she knew the people and not just the addresses. The countryside was beautiful, and I found myself imagining what it would be like to live out there. The reality was a stark contrast to what my imagination conjured. As we knocked, delivered food, and chatted for a while, I noticed things I never would have on a recreational drive in the country. Some of her clients were lonely and quite talkative. Others practically hid behind the door. But their need was visible, and we brought them food. Mary Ann always asked them what else they needed, because Meals on Wheels can connect their clients with other services and resources. It all starts with the meal delivery, and we were finished in under two hours.
On Sunday, November 12th, we welcome Meals on Wheels Orange County Executive Director Rachel Bearman to St. Matthew’s for the Sunday Forum (9:15 – 10:15 in the Fellowship Hall). Rachel’s enthusiasm in describing the work of Meals on Wheels is contagious, and there are a wide variety of ways to volunteer. If delivery isn’t your thing, there are opportunities that range from baking to making greeting cards to serving on committees or the board. All the volunteer jobs are well-supported by the staff and the impact on the community is significant. It’s also one of those jobs where you get so very much more than you give. Come to the Forum, meet Rachel, and let’s discern how we might see and serve our neighbor.
Day Smith Pritchartt, Deacon Intern
