Mission Statement

God's Work, Our Hands

The mission of South Park Meals on Wheels is to provide an alternative to institutionalization, through good nutrition, enabling the homebound elderly and/or disabled to remain in their homes with independence and dignity.

In addition, secondary objectives include providing economical, well balanced, attractive meals; addressing the problem of isolation through human contact by the daily physical presence of volunteers; and continuing efforts to deal with concerns and problems present in the lives of the elderly and shut-ins.  We provide referral services through networking with the Department of Aging and local Social Service Agencies.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Who Qualifies?

  • Age 60 and older
  • Anyone under 60 who is unable to shop or prepare meals for one's self due to a physical or mental disability
  • Anyone unable to shop or prepare meals due to surgery or illness - even if it is only for a few weeks or months.

When are meals delivered?

  • 5 days a week (Monday - Friday) excluding major holidays.  Arrangements can be made for a fozen meal on holidays or even weekends.
  • Meals are delivered to clients' homes between 10:00am and 11:30am.  Someone must be home to receive the meals, we cannot leave the meals outside.

What are the meals?

  • A bagged lunch with bread and butter, a sandwich, and fruit.  With the help of generous donations most of the time we are also able to provide a salad, dessert, yogurt, or even cereal.
  • Once a week a quart of milk is provided.  (choice of skim, 2%, or whole milk)
  • The hot meal is a home cooked meal in a 2 or 3 compartment container made up of a protein, starch, and vegetable. (example is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans)

What is the cost?

  • The meals are free because most of the food is donated.  Most clients provide a $5.00 a day donation to help cover the cost associated with running the program and packaging. 
  • Our program is here to help so no one goes hungry.  We rely on generous supporters and businesses to keep providing a much needed service to our neighbors.

What if I don't need meals all 5 days?

  • No problem!  We can work with your schedule.  Some clients receive meals 2 or 3 days because they have therapy or family members who can be home. 
  • If you are going to be off due to any reason, please call us to let us know.  If you are supposed to get a meal and no one is home, we worry and start calling emergency contacts.
  • This does not have to be a permanent program once you sign up.  If you are going to be away, we can put your name on hold until you need meals again.

South Park Meals on Wheels served our first meal in March of 1990.   We began with 24 clients in South Park and South Bladwin.  We had 4 routes and about 30 volunteers.  We started out housed within Grace Lutheran Church in South Park Township.   When the church closed at the end of 2023, we relocated to Gill Hall Fire Department in Jefferson Hills. We have evolved from an independent program, subsidized by Allegheny County, to part of the Lutheran Service Society, and back to an independent kitchen serving as an ourtreach program from Grace Lutheran Church.  We will be restarting at our new location and back to serving clients in all of South Park and Pleasant Hills, Jefferson Hills and parts of south Baldwin, and parts of Whitehall.  Our numbers change daily and we now serve 3 meals a day; a hot meal, bagged lunch and a breakfast item, if available.  Our clients receive salads, fruits and desserts with their sandwiches, juice occasionally and a quart of milk once a week.   

We are no longer subsidized by the government or any organization.  We have only one paid person on staff that is responsible for the day to day paperwork and phone calls along with one paid person in charge of preparing the meals.  Everyone else who helps prepare, deliver, and check on our clients, are all volunteers.    We are working hard to assure that this greatly needed program continues and we need your help by either volunteering with us or supporting us financially to help with operational costs (utilites, insurance, snow/garbage).

Steering Committee

Pam Mason - Chairman

Eric Luznar - Treasurer

Peggy Jarosh - Secretary

Members at Large

Missy Foltz                               Sean Hayes

Tracy Kaczmarek                        Jason McLean

Joe Pelan                                    Linda Pelan