Volunteers sought to deliver meals in Saratoga County

SARATOGA COUNTY – Officials from the Saratoga County Office for the Aging would like to get back to delivering hot meals to housebound senior citizens on weekdays, as it did prior to the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

But the agency needs more volunteer drivers to carry out that important task, county officials said late last week.

Due to the pandemic, the Office for the Aging has been making bulk deliveries of frozen meals to homes once a week.

During an interview Sunday, longtime volunteer driver Meg Gorman of Mechanicville examined the schedule of volunteer drivers in her area and expressed concern.

“There’s a lot of empty slots on the calendar for November and December,” said Gorman, who, with her husband Tony Delveccio, delivers in the area of her hometown and other communities in the county, if called upon.

“Matter of fact, we don’t have anybody definite on Mondays, and Thursdays and Friday look pretty sad too,” said Gorman, who’s been volunteering for about 10 years, ever since retiring from Mechanicville’s Public Safety Department.

It’s a similar picture throughout the area, as county officials put out the call for its “urgent need” for volunteer drivers.

The Office of Aging delivers 1,400 meals each weekday to homebound seniors age 60 and older in Saratoga County.

There are 34 delivery routes throughout the county every day, and its roster has approximately 220 volunteers. However, only 40% are actively volunteering, according to Christine Rush, the county’s director of public relations.

“We need as many volunteers as we can get,” she said in a statement.

The program provides seniors with a nutritious ready-to-eat lunch each weekday. Seniors also have the option to receive a frozen meal they may enjoy later for dinner.

Volunteers are especially needed in the Saratoga, Schuylerville, Hadley, Edinburg, Galway, Greenfield, Malta, Mechanicville, Moreau, and Wilton areas.

Meals are prepared, packed, and ready for transport at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Volunteers pick up meals at one of nine sites throughout the county and deliver them to a pre-determined list of participating seniors.

Delivery typically takes about an hour. Volunteers’ schedules are flexible to meet their availability.

The requirements for volunteers are individuals must submit paperwork, including references, to the Saratoga County Office for the Aging. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle. Training and orientation are provided to all volunteers.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Billie Jo McConkey at the Saratoga County Office for the Aging at 518-884-4020.

Gorman noted she doesn’t just deliver food to the housebound.

She’s also trying to put a smile on their faces.

“I have a couple characters, and they like to chat,” said Gorman, explaining that her husband, Delveccio, waits patiently in the car while she’s typically bantering with clients.

“It’s hard to just drop and run,” she said.

David Clairmont Sr., 82, of Ballston Spa, said he looks forward to his delivery.

The delivery person sets the bags of food by his refrigerator for him to put away, and Clairmont said he appreciates when they ask how he’s doing.

“You couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people,” he said. “They take good care of you.”

Clairmont said he hasn’t left his house in about a year, except for using his walker to go out onto his driveway for fresh air.

With no family in the area, and an assortment of ailments that limit him to being able to only make a can of soup or a sandwich for hot food, Clairmont is reliant on Saratoga County’s Office of Aging for food.

The nearest store with food, Stewart’s, is nearly a mile away.

“Without these meals, there’s no way I could be living here,” Clairmont said. “They have done so much just for me to be able to stay in my home.”

Clairmont, who’s on oxygen, said the food is good, too.

“There’s nothing wrong with it whatsoever,” said Clairmont, who’s partial to the various chicken meals — pulled chicken, chicken pot pie and barbecue chicken — and fish from the agency.

“I haven’t had one meal I could complain about. I’m not crazy over the chili. It’s not like the chili I’m used to 40 years ago. But it ain’t 40 years ago either,” he said with a laugh.

Clairmont said he’s lived alone since his wife passed away 18 years ago. He has a parrot and dog who keep him company.

“The last thing I want to do is give up my home,” he said, thanking the meals delivery program for making that possible, “and I’ve been here for 45 years.”

Contact reporter Brian Lee at [email protected] or 518-419-9766.

Categories: News, Saratoga County