We all know the importance of food as nourishment to the body and soul, and fortunately, in Wasco County there are several meal sites providing that nourishment by serving noon time meals primarily for folks 60 and over.

One such program is Meals-on-Wheels which leases space from the Senior Center. Five days a week, they prepare around 200 nutritious meals – a healthy alternative to frozen prepackaged dinners high in sodium – that are delivered by volunteers or served in the dining room at the Center. (71% of the folks surveyed at the Center said they eat better because of Meals-on-Wheels.)

But Meals-on-Wheels is more than a meal.

Margaret Mead once said “One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night.” But for many older folks no one would notice if they didn’t come home. They live alone and do not have relatives or children who keep in daily contact. But the Meals-on-Wheels driver will wonder if you don’t come to the door and will find out if all is well. (Several times a Meals-on-Wheels driver has found someone on the floor unable to call for help.)

Meals-on-Wheels also reaches out. Last winter, when drivers found the sidewalks nearly impassable, Meals-on-Wheels contacted Boy Scout Troop #395 who went out that same day to shovel sidewalks and walkways. And for Christmas, Meals-on-Wheels, through generous donations, purchased gifts for the folks on the home delivered routes causing one older gentleman to cry because it was the first Christmas gift he had received in years.

But besides the home delivered meals, Meals-on-Wheels offers a daily meal at the Center which brings folks together to meet and connect with old and new friends. You can join in the fellowship; learn about new activities and find out you are not alone.

The Center supports Meals-on-Wheels because we share a common building, common friends and a common mission – promoting healthy aging – but most importantly because every day we see Meals-on-Wheels and their volunteers doing great work.

And if you want to meet more fine folks and enjoy more good food, visit the Pioneer Potlatch meal sites in Wasco County: Dufur – serving every Tuesday, Tygh Valley – serving every Thursday, and Mosier -serving every Monday and Wednesday.

Tonight the Sugar Daddies are playing for your listening and dancing pleasure and next week the big band sounds return with the Jazz Generations. Admission is always free but to keep the music flowing donations are appreciated. And this Sunday, the Center will be hosting the Sunday Pie and Jam Social from 2 – 5 pm.

The answer to last week’s question was House Party, the television show hosted by Art Linkletter that included the segment “Kids Say the Darndest Things”. You can see highlights from the show on the Center’s blog at midcolumbiaseniorcenter.com.

This week’s question suggested by Joanne Scott is a tough one. What radio host on his morning show called the kids “to march around the breakfast table”?” As a child Joanne use to listen to the show and as she said “was just dumb enough to do it”.

And finally my Monday morning editor, Zelta Wasson, is taking a short vacation at MCMC. I can think of less expensive vacation locations, but the service is good. So Zelta, we are thinking of you and expect to see you back real soon. I need all your help I can get.

Until we meet again, in anger, as in chewing, it is best to keep your mouth shut.

“Older people shouldn`t eat health food, they need all the preservatives they can get.” Robert Orben