16 SEPTEMBER 2022 - CLUB MEETING
DEAN MANSION, PARK RIDGE NJ
Flag Salute: Terry Ciulla
Four Way Test: Bob Bustard
Invocation: Terry Ciuuylla
Members Present: Michelle Albergo, Dan Antokal, June Bertini, Bob Bustard, Terry Ciulla, Steve Fox, Pete Jacobson, Brian Landy, Fay Logan, Diane Saccocia
Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Jeanne Martin
Announcements:
- The next Board meeting will be hybrid, with the in-person session at Steve Fox’s Office at 6:30 and Zoom at 78 PM
- Next Thursday will be a social event, time and place TBD
- The October 7 meeting will feature Ron Gold of Lean on We
- The October 14 meeting will include a visit from our District Governor, Ray Cywinski
- The October 18 meeting will feature Frank Squeo of Baking Memories 4 Kids
Sunshine:
- Stuart is in the hospital with several issues
- Dan’s mother is in the hospital
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are currently contending with
adversity of one type or another.
Program:
On September 16, 2022, at the Dean Mansion in Park Ridge, NJ, Rotary members welcomed Jeanne Martin, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels North Jersey. She is currently a member of the Oradell-Emerson Rotary Club and was a past President of the Westwood Rotary Club.
Meals on Wheels is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides both nutritious meals and a daily well visits to home-bound neighbors. It was founded in 1972 by Margaret Cook. In North Jersey the program began with $250 seed money from the Rotary Club of Park Ridge. The organization’s current budget is now about $550,000. They serve approximately 300 people and 200 meals a day with food provided by Rockland County Meals on Wheels. They cover 31 towns and villages in Bergen County. The COVID epidemic put a big strain on the program, during which timer frozen (instead of fresh) meals were delivered and clients faced increased isolation.
People who need Meals on Wheels services are mostly seniors as well as some veterans. Those who can’t afford to pay for the meals are helped through individual, group, and government donations. With rare exceptions, it is required that clients live alone and are unable to drive.
Meals on Wheels serves people who are more than “clients”. They are considered friends and neighbors. As a result, volunteers do more than drop off a meal. Volunteers have been known to contact social workers for a client having a hard time, notify police if a client doesn’t answer the phone or door, and simply be there for those experiencing isolation and needing face to face contact.
Meals on Wheels is now celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala on Thursday, September 22. Some of our members will be in attendance. A Ragtime theater fundraiser is also coming up on October 18.