How Meals on Wheels delivers to seniors safely during winter storms

(update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Adrian Hicks is one of the volunteers with the Council on Aging of Central Oregon’s Meals on Wheels. The program delivers meals to homebound individuals who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals.

Hicks usually works in the kitchen and delivers meals, but the winter storm kept him off the road.

"Cassie called today and said that we weren't going to be delivering," Hicks said Friday.

The Council on Aging keeps a close eye on the weather and plans ahead when conditions worsen.

Executive Director Cassie Regimbal said, "In weather events like this, we pack two meals to be delivered on one day so that just in case we're unable to make it the next day, folks don't go without a meal."

They also send out shelf-stable emergency meals if the volunteers can't get out to them.

"We just want to make sure they don't go without the food they need," Regimbal said. "We also want to ensure our volunteers stay safe and aren’t on the roads unnecessarily."

Despite the bad weather, volunteers still showed up to the kitchen Friday to prepare meals.

Hick said, "Winter is just like summer. They can't get out anyway. And that's why they're doing Meals on Wheels."

During these weather events, the Council on Aging partners with Deschutes County to serve as a warming shelter. They operate from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

If you are interested in volunteering for the Council on Aging of Central Oregon, click here.