Meals on Wheels volunteer: 30 years on the road

Kindness and empathy are virtues that Keystone volunteer Sigrid brings to the table (sometimes literally) when she drops off meals, nearly every Monday, to Keystone's Meals On Wheels clients. 

She started delivering meals when her son Chris, the third of four boys, was just two years old - he's now 33! The Meals On Wheels program was close to home which was important to Sigrid because she wanted to connect with people in her own neighborhood. She estimates she has met at least 400 people during her 30 years as a volunteer. 

"I just wanted to help out," said Sigrid. "I'd encourage any one to go out and volunteer if you can. You get more out of it than you put in."                           

Sigrid's fond memories include one of her first recipients, who happened to be an older German lady. Sigrid herself had moved here from Germany in 1965.  "It was really great to have someone to talk German to," she recalls. Sigrid also remembers Virginia, who had such a great sense of humor and who could, Sigrid says, "have fun with some of life's toughest moments."                          

Why has Sigrid continued to volunteer for so many years? "I consider the Meals On Wheels recipients my friends and I love visiting with them," she said.                     

Sigrid is an active senior herself, working each spring at a flower mart, and gardening, reading and caring for her eight grandchildren, ages four months to nine years old. "My grandkids come along now on my meal delivery days. Our clients love seeing the kids," she said. And the kids no doubt love riding along with their grandma Sigrid.