Jul 7, 2008 7:01 pm US/Eastern
Gas Prices Putting Heavy Strain On Meals On Wheels
Volunteers Using Their Own Money To Fuel Food Deliveries
STATEN ISLAND (CBS) ―
-
-
Everyday, 1300 meals are prepared and delivered to over 600 recipients and about 60 percent, most of them, are delivered by volunteers. They also pay for their own gas. In the past few months, Gail Griffo has seen her fuel bill double, from $35 to $70.
CBS
The ever-rising gas prices are scaring away volunteers who are expected to use their own car. CBS 2 has the story of a local charity that may be running on empty.
Every Monday, Gail and Marisa deliver fresh hot and cold food to people like Rose Gardini, who is sick and can not shop or cook for herself.
"God bless them. I bless them everyday. They come rain, snow or shine. And I tell them how wonderful they are," said Gardini.
There are over 250 Meals on Wheels volunteers across Staten Island. Three women alone are able to help 15 people eat each week thanks to Gail's driving.
"You use up a lot of gas," said volunteer Gail Griffo.
Which is a big problem according to the program's president.
"Not only have gas prices been increasing too dramatically, but our census of recipients has been growing at the same time," said Staten Island Meals on Wheels President Joe Tornello.
Everyday, 1300 meals are prepared and delivered to over 600 recipients and about 60 percent, most of them, are delivered by volunteers.
They also pay for their own gas. In the past few months, Gail Griffo has seen her fuel bill double, from $35 to $70. So to continue helping others, she finds herself limiting her own travel, but vows to keep delivering meals despite the pain at the pump.
"I'll cut other places, but I'll definetely do this," said Griffo. "Everybody needs somebody at some point in their life, and why not."
Meals on Wheels has not lost any volunteers yet, and is now looking and hoping for assistance to help reimburse its 250 volunteer drivers. The Meal on Wheels of Staten Island is a non-profit that is largely funded by the city department of aging.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
World's Most Useless Facts
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments