by Anayeli Ruiz
NewsWest 9
MIDLAND - Gas prices keep climbing and it's hurting everyone's wallet. Especially one organization that relies on drivers to help deliver hot meals to the elderly. As NewsWest 9 found out the prices at the pump are putting the brakes on their volunteers.
"Yes, we have had some people cut back on what they can drive and we had some people quit. I mean the gas prices have affected us," Shanda Garner, the Volunteer Coordinator for Meals on Wheels, said.
Meals on Wheels is feeling the pinch with high gas prices. Their volunteers help deliver meals with their own cars and gas to elderly west Texans but the number of volunteers is going down as the price of gas goes up.
"We're on a fixed income and we have to watch our nickels and dimes but are glad to help Meals on Wheels," Meals on Wheels Volunteer, Bill Milner, said.
"It's hard because especially with my pickup, I have to fill up like twice a week," Meals on Wheels Volunteer, Robert Ramirez, said.
Jim Brown is one of the people who is still driving around the area delivering hot meals.
"We have some clients that are not able to get out and go shopping, let alone actually cook their own meal, so in many cases this is their only meal of the day," Meals on Wheels Volunteer, Jim Brown, said.
Meals on Wheels is now asking for your help. Summer is typically the hardest time to find people willing to deliver now that the cost of gas is making that even tougher.
"We've got a lot of people to feed, and without the volunteers, it's just not possible," Garner said.
But for volunteers like Robert Ramirez, no matter how high gas prices are he will stick through it and help get those meals out.
"I'll find a way to do it, if I have to get a bike and cart behind me, I'll make sure they get their meals. I feel so bad for the elderly, we put them to the side and just forget about them now," Ramirez said.
If you have some free time and you like to help out Meals on Wheels, it's only about an hour a day during lunch. You can help everyday once a week or even once a month. You can contact them at 432-689-6693.
