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Meals For The Elderly needs your help

The program, which serves homebound seniors in the Concho Valley, could use a hand delivering meals.

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Many nonprofit organizations across the country are consistently facing the obstacles has COVID-19 presented.

San Angelo's Meals For the Elderly is no exception. The virus is testing the organization’s goal to serve the community.

"Specifically, our seniors you know they aren't able they are home bound generally they are not able to go out and shop for themselves," Meals For the Elderly Marketing and Event Director Dannielle Dunagan said. "That's why they are on our services they are not able to provide meals for themselves so that's what we do."

The quarantines, social distancing and stay-at-home orders have caused the number of people seeking help to increase. Normally, the increase of recipients isn’t a problem, but new rules in place have many volunteers looking out for their personal health.

With a number of volunteers staying home, it is now a challenge to be able to deliver meals to recipients. There has not been enough help to keep with the 700 recipients who need the help. The reason for the decline in volunteers is that their children are home, because schools are closed.

"They want to shelter at home, and they want be sure they are safe and they want to be sure they are being safe for their kids," Dunagan said.

Despite the lack of volunteers, the community has been a big help for the organization, in the form of donations. They're receiving donations daily, helping provide hot meals and sometimes, donation such as soap and toilet paper.

"Our community is amazing and we have a ton of businesses as well as independents come in and donate," Dunagan said.

To volunteer, apply at mealsfortheelderly.org.

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