KENT, Conn. — Kent’s corps of dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers celebrated a retiring “super volunteer” recently with a luncheon for Ruth Woodard, a resident of Templeton Farm Senior Housing.
Photo by Ruth Epstein
Woodard has served as a volunteer for the Kent Senior Center’s Nutrition Site and Meals on Wheels program for 22 years. The nutrition site luncheon program closed before the Covid-19 Pandemic, but Meals on Wheels (MOW) continued to operate, never taking a break even at the height of the pandemic. Kent volunteers have been delivering Meals on Wheels since 2006. Meals have been delivered to more than 120 people in that time.
A letter from Kent First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer praised Woodard’s dedication, saying, “As the primary volunteer…you’ve opened the kitchen each Monday and Wednesday morning, greeted the MOW drivers when they come from Torrington to deliver the food and assisted the Kent volunteers (who deliver the food locally).”
A letter from the Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program and a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly obtained by State Representative Maria Horn were also read and presented to Woodard, as well as a card of appreciation and gifts from the volunteers.
Woodard noted that she, “enjoyed every day as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels in this very special town. I’ll miss working with the volunteers, who are very special people.”
She will continue to serve as president of the Resident Council at Templeton Farms.
Present at the luncheon were MOW volunteers John Barton, Tom Begnal, Bill and Catherine Bachrach, Clytie Kennedy, Denise Speranzo, Gary Davis, Sam Callaway, Sue McWhinnie, Adele Johnson and Cathe Mazza. Former first selectmen Lorry Schiesel and Ruth Epstein also joined in honoring Woodard.
With a doctor’s recommendation, the Meals on Wheels program is open to all home-bound seniors, regardless of income, who are 60 years of age and older. Spouses and disabled dependents of an eligible senior are also eligible for MOW.
Call the MOW staff at the Litchfield Hills Elderly Nutrition Program in Torrington, Conn., for more information at 860-482-4151.
Story courtesy of Catherine Bachrach
