Local mayors pitch in for a cause -- bringing meals to needy seniors

Homebound seniors in Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights received their Meals on Wheels delivery from an unlikely person -- their mayor.

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins, Rolling Meadows Mayor Kenneth Nelson and Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder all helped make the noontime deliveries.

In doing so, they joined more than 1,000 mayors nationwide who signed up to deliver meals as part of the "Mayors for Meals" program.

For Mullins, this was the third consecutive year delivering meals. She wore a bright red cap with the "Mayors for Meals" logo on the brim and visited residents at the Greencastle of Palatine senior residence.

At one of her stops, Mullins found Elma Newburg sitting in her recliner watching a morning game show.

While Newburg admitted she was surprised at the visitors, she brightened when she saw her regular delivery person, 81-year old Mary Tarbit of Palatine.

Mullins presented Newburg with her meal, which on this particular day was a special Easter menu of baked ham, au gratin potatoes, green beans almondine, fruit punch and a dinner roll, with custard pie for dessert.

"I think it's great," Newburg said of the meal delivery service. "My daughter's working, and my legs aren't so good, since I had a stroke."

Another of Mullins' deliveries went to resident Bobbi Nienke, who said she liked the variety of meals.

"There's a monthly calendar and there are no repetitions," Nienke said.

Each of the nutritionally balanced meals are presented in portion-size compartments.

"It's such a valuable service," Mullins said. "It's different in a building like this, where it's communal living. But when seniors are living alone, sometimes these (delivery) people are the only they may see all week. So, it's a well-being check as much anything."

Meals on Wheels is a national program, administered locally by the Community Nutrition Network. There are 21 locations in the Chicago area, including seven in northwest Cook County. Most offer both dine-in and Meals on Wheels programs. Sites are located in Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Des Plaines, Evanston, Morton Grove, Palatine and Schaumburg.

In Palatine Township alone, up to 65 meals are delivered to residents by volunteers daily, while in Wheeling Township, based in Arlington Heights, and Hanover Township, based in Bartlett, some 40 meals are delivered daily.

"Senior nutrition is a serious problem plaguing communities across the country," said Donna Schultz, regional director of the Community Nutrition Network. "The mayors bring visibility to the program, and they are in a position to help us."