OREM — It takes a lot of miles to cover all the deliveries made by Meals on Wheels in Utah, Wasatch and Summit County.
And it takes a lot of fuel.
That's why $2,500 in gas cards and more than $100,000 in donations from Tesoro means so much to the Mountainland Association of Governments.
With thousands of hot meals to deliver once a day, five days a week, the regional association of governments that oversees aging and family services for Utah, Wasatch and Summit County can use all the help it can get.
"When you look at the growing number of the senior population, we're going to have to get creative of how to serve those that really need it," said Scott McBeth, MAG Aging and Family Services Department director. "We'll have to look for more donations to help with meal costs. We have a waiting list of around 50 people in Utah County ... that qualify and they like (the program) and we don't have the resources to get them a meal."
McBeth said Wasatch and Summit counties don't have a waiting list for the service, but between the three counties some 132,000 hot meals were delivered last year. In Utah County the program services at least 500 people.
MAG makes sure the meals are delivered around lunchtime Monday to Friday, and volunteers are reimbursed for the gas they spend to help make the deliveries. McBeth said one route in Utah County costs $25 a day.
"Meal delivery is one of the most expensive parts of the (Meals on Wheels) cost," McBeth said. "When we use volunteers, that helps, but we reimburse the volunteers for the gasoline, so that is still an expense."
Tesoro donated gas cards and money to MAG last year, and it was helpful, McBeth said. In addition to the the $2,500 in gas cards, Tesoro donated 2 cents of every gallon sold at its stations from Aug. 17-19 to selected Meals on Wheels programs.
Last year, Tesoro gave MAG about $128,000 and this year, the amount will be at least $100,000, Tesoro spokesman Brad Groneman said.
"We certainly admire the purpose of Meals on Wheels," Groneman said. "It helps meet the needs of seniors in the community and helps them remain independent and remain in their homes and live their lives to the fullest."
Meals on Wheels receives funding from the state and federal government and occasional donations, McBeth said. The meals are delivered around lunchtime to qualifying individuals who are at least 60 years old and homebound.
Aside from the edible benefits of the program, McBeth said Meals on Wheels also provides a practical and emotional service.
"As we become older, nutritional meals really become an issue," McBeth said. "(The meals) are aiding them and helping provide a balanced nutritional meal that balances their health, but it also provides daily contact. There are some seniors (on the program) that have very little, if any, contact with anyone except for the people delivering the meal, so it's a way to check on them and make sure they're OK."
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