Back in 1972, Virginia Strayer was asked by Joy Witwer from South Bend if she would be interested in starting a Meals on Wheels program in the Niles-Buchanan area.

Virginia was happy to head up the program but needed a whole crew of others to help get it off the ground. Jane Davis, head of the Pawating Hospital at the time, along with attorney, Cap Grathwohl, Sr., Muriel Huizenga, Howard Stevens, Miriam Hassan, Catherine Villeneuve and Miriam Laberteaux comprised the first organized group, and a board of directors was formed. 

One of the first things Virginia did was go to the community asking for funds. Her first presentation was to the Niles Service League.  She not only asked for a donation but for volunteer drivers. They donated enough money to buy small “ovens” to keep the meals warm for delivery to clients’ homes.  She also was able to schedule many eager drivers.

The board originally met in a small room in Pawating Hospital. One day, Pete Krajci offered them a free room in his store’s basement which served as their office. They had no office supplies at the time, but Howard Stevens had a knack for finding things and would come into the office bringing a chair, and then a desk, a hat rack, a typewriter and telephone so they could run this non-profit business of delivering fresh, nutritious meals to people in need.  They had one route, and it was within a five-mile limit of Niles with six to 10 clients. With that, Meals on Wheels was off and running! 

Virginia said she never wanted to give up this worthwhile job, but later, when her husband (Dr. John Strayer) retired, Ginny and John found pleasure in delivering meals. On several occasions, Ginny would wait in the car as John would deliver the meals.  There were several times when she found that he was gone for quite a while.  When she asked him why it took so long, he would tell her he was looking at the family pictures or talking with the family. The Strayer family “lived” volunteerism, and the three children, Ann, Kathy, and Jack have spent their lives helping others.  Jack was on Meals on Wheels Board and was instrumental in raising money from individuals in the community, businesses and foundations. 

Now, 57 years later, Virginia receives meals and finds, “The volunteers — especially the couples — are very nice and caring.”   She finds comfort in knowing that they are checking on her every day and that the meals, planned by Spectrum Health’s dietician, are well-balanced and fresh!

Even though so many things have changed since 1972, the Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels Program basically remains the same.  Meal delivery is Monday through Friday with a Saturday meals available as well to Niles and Buchanan residents as far as 6 miles from the center of each city.  The cost is $5 for two meals, one hot and one cold.  Anyone can receive meals and clients range from those who can’t easily get to the store or have recently had surgery and are recovering at home, to for those who simply would like nutritious meal. The program has three routes now and over 30 clients.  The drivers are caring volunteers who enjoy talking to clients and giving their family peace of mind by checking on them when they drop off the meals.  The program is still a non-profit program so worthwhile that many individuals, businesses, and foundations donate to the program every year. Recently, MOW received generous grants from Gateway Foundation and Walmart which will help to continue to keep the cost affordable for their clients.   

Meals on Wheels can be found on Facebook and on mealsonwheelsnb.com. Interested clients may call Christie Purucker at Spectrum Health to sign up for meals at (269) 687-1462.

Amy Bender is on the board of directors for Meals on Wheels. She can be reached at bender.amy@sbcglobal.net.