December Volunteer of the Month
Rodney Heckaman and Marian Ryan

If you need to find an address, just ask a letter carrier. So who better to deliver a Meals-On-Wheels route and find new addresses than a retired letter carrier? That was certainly the case when Rodney Heckaman began delivering meals to homebound seniors nearly 10 years ago. He had retired from the U.S. Postal Service and heard a story on the news about delivering meals. He originally volunteered at the Northeast Center, but when his route was transferred to the St. Johns Center, he moved with the route. It is now delivered out of the Two Rivers Loaves & Fishes Center and Rodney is still faithfully delivering three times weekly.

"I'm not an athlete or an artist or anything like that," Rodney said. "So this is what I do for fun! I like the people on my route and I like helping out."

Rodney is ably assisted on his route by Marian Ryan. Marian's late husband worked with Rodney as a letter carrier and they've known each other for years. Rodney said that Marian is a "chronic volunteer" and couldn't help but say "yes" when Rodney asked her to come along three years ago. She's been helping out ever since. In addition to her weekly meal route, Marian volunteers at the Albertina Kerr Center, at the Salvation Army Rose Center and for the Letter Carrier's Auxiliary.

If you would like to know more about volunteering to help deliver Meals-On-Wheels in your neighborhood, call Angel Pilato at 503.736.6325 ext. 86239.