Gas prices stall volunteer drivers for meal deliveriesby Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)
The Salvation Army Mobile Meals program in Elkhart provides hot meals to shut-ins. Organizers say gas prices are making it hard to find volunteer drivers. (WSBT photo) ELKHART — Social service agencies depend on volunteer drivers to serve clients. Those gas prices can keep people from volunteering, and that’s having an effect on a needed program in Elkhart. Multimedia Volunteer Bill Czirjak oversees the Mobile Meals program at the Salvation Army. It provides hot meals for shut-ins. The program needs about 30 drivers; it currently has 27. Some days he has to pick up the slack. “Today, this is Monday — I have to deliver possibly three routes and it’s probably 20 people — and it will take me an hour and a half, maybe two hours,” he told WSBT News. He and the other volunteers pay for their own gas. Czirjak feels high prices are preventing others from volunteering. "With existing drivers it does not, but for incoming drivers — applicants, so to speak — it’s a deterrent,” he said. “I do think it probably enters their mind when they're thinking about volunteering because they don't know how many miles they're going to be driving and how much gas that's going to be,” explained Julie Poertner with Salvation Army. For the dozens of area clients served by this program, the hot meals are very important part of their daily life. Claudette Emmons is one of the volunteer drivers who knows that. She lives on a fixed income, but makes adjustments in her budget to help make deliveries. “I know they need help and I really watch what I do,” she said. “I don't drive any more than I have to; I just go do what I have to do and get back home." Without additional drivers, the program would not shut down, but would have to cut back on deliveries. About 90 percent of the drivers are retirees. If you would like to help, contact the Elkhart Salvation Army office. Most PopularMore Good Stuff |
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