Arrow Archives
1996-2001

Man, That's Weird
A column by
Jim Bennett

Sports Schedule
2000-2001

Arrow Staff
2000-2001

Classmates.com
Find old friends from FHS

School District 5
Recent School Information

Yahoo.com Newspaper Listings
High school newspapers

The Missoulian
The Missoulian Internet Edition

TeenVoice
The electronic
voice of teens

The Emblem Online
High School Newspaper

Students put wheels to use in a drive
to feed the Flathead's elderly

  C.J. Cummings - Arrow Staff

   What do you get when you combine the Adopt-an-Elder Club with Meals on Wheels? Jesse Mahugh's newest innovation - a student partnership with the Meals on Wheels program.

   "It's an offshoot from Adopt-an-Elder," says senior Mahugh. "We go to Glacier Manor or Big Sky Manor. Meals on Wheels makes the food and we serve it. It's like we're waiters only with more interaction. We'll talk to them and keep them company while they eat."

   The students head to Glacier or Big Sky Manor on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons each week and meet with a designated elder.

   "We just got started, so we're all pretty green," says senior Travis Ober. "But soon we'll be able to go out and bring more kids in and show them the ropes.

   "At the training they taught us what to do," says junior Clarice Strong. "I want to get involved with the program because I like to help people and when I do something for someone I get a sense of accomplishment."

   Junior Alice Gates has also undergone the training program.

   "They basically just gave us a rundown of what we'd be doing," says Gates. "We show up at 11:15 and take them from their rooms to the cafeteria. Then we help administer the food and then take them back to their rooms, and then we go back and clean up. Then we go back to school. They gave us guidelines on how to talk with old people."

   Senior Kenny Lard has already participated in the Meals on Wheels program.

   "It went well, it was fun. We had to go get them and serve them different meals according to their needs," says Lard. "Some people were diabetic, so we made sure to give them the low sugar meals. Others had special low cholesterol meals. We'd have to go talk to them, find out their names, just try to get to know them."

   Many positive things have been said of the Adopt an Elder club and its partnership with Meals on Wheels.

   "I think it's a great program, to get seniors out of their apartments and be social and exchange stories with the kids," says J. R. Isles, who works for Meals on Wheels. "I love to see the seniors and the kids mingling together."

   "Keeping them company and being their friend is more important than the food. The meals are just a way to bring them together," says Mahugh. "Bringing people together is my main goal."