20-03-2025
WMBD news anchors pack meals for homebound seniors
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Three WMBD anchors and other community leaders spent Wednesday morning giving back to the community by boxing up meals for homebound seniors.
The goal of Community of Champions Week at Neighborhood House in Peoria is to raise awareness about the importance of senior nutrition through Meals on Wheels.
'Oftentimes we hear that are our senior neighbors, due to just age, frailty, different conditions, it may make preparing a meal difficult, but they want to be able to stay in their home. If they weren't provided with that meal, they could end up malnourished, dehydrated and in the hospital,' explained Julie Bonar, president and CEO of Neighborhood House.
Every day, Bonar said Neighborhood House delivers between 800 and 900 meals across Peoria County and Tazewell County. Each meal includes three ounces of protein, a cup of vegetables, half cup of fruit, a roll and milk.
'Oftentimes when individuals come to our program, it can be after a hospitalization due to malnutrition or dehydration. And so we're providing one-third of their daily caloric needs through the hot meal that is delivered. And then if they qualify, some of our clients also receive a frozen meal that they can have later in the day,' she said.
And while food is important, the deliveries also provide something less tangible: human companionship and comfort.
'We always say that it's more than just the meal and it's that daily interaction. It's the same driver delivering each day. So they get to know the people that they're delivering to and the people that are getting the meal look forward to that daily visit from their driver. Oftentimes it's the only person that they see,' said Bonar.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about one in four Americans aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated, and 43% of adults aged 60 and older report feeling lonely.
'Being socially isolated, being lonely is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So we really like to shed light on that, that it really truly is more than just a meal that we're delivering,' said Bonar.
Neighborhood House also offers 'Critters Meals on Wheels' for seniors with companion animals. The program started 20 years ago after they found out clients were sharing meals with their pets.
'We know how important that companionship of a pet is for our seniors. There are many medical benefits to that, including lower blood pressure, less stress, and it also requires the senior to get up and care for something else. So is keeping them active,' said Bonar.
Neighborhood House proudly doesn't have a waitlist for Meals on Wheels. However, they are in need of more volunteers.
'We need people who can come in and who can help take packs of hamburger buns, hot dog buns, tortillas and put them into single serving packages. We have fruit that needs to be portioned into individual, single-serving-size cups. So there's lots of opportunities for people to volunteer that way,' said Bonar.
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