Loaves & Fishes Centers, The Meals-On-Wheels People is announcing a new meal delivery system for the metropolitan area. Dubbed Meals On Two Wheels, the program allows bicycle riders to deliver Meals-On-Wheels to homebound seniors during the lunch hour on weekdays.
Spearheaded by volunteer Shari Shanks of Con-way, Meals On Two Wheels routes are now available at most of Loaves & Fishes Center’s 22 meal distribution sites in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. Bike riders can register for a meal route, pick up a bike trailer and coolers at the center nearest to their home or office and complete a meal delivery route in about 90 minutes.
A dozen Burley bike trailers have been donated for use in the program. Contributors include Con-way, Con-way employees, Oregon Trucking Association, the Multnomah Athletic Club and Castelli, a custom-cycling apparel company.
A kick-off event for the Meals On Two Wheels program is set for Tuesday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m. Bike deliveries will take place at four locations:
- Shari Shanks, along with members of the Concordia New Seasons Market and Arbor Lodge New Seasons Market volunteer bike delivery teams, will be at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Loaves & Fishes Center, located at 5325 NE MLK, Jr. Bld.
- Vancouver City Councilman Larry Smith will deliver meals from the Luepke Loaves & Fishes Center, located at 1009 E McLoughlin Blvd. in Vancouver
- Vicki Adams, manager of the Beaverton Loaves & Fishes Center, will deliver meals from the Beaverton Center, located at 5550 SW Hall Blvd.
- Leah McCarthy will deliver meals from the Hillsboro Loaves & Fishes Center, located at 372 NE Lincoln Street in Hillsboro.
All deliveries will take place beginning at 10:30 a.m.
“Meals-On-Wheels have traditionally been delivered using automobiles, but we’ve had several people express interest in making deliveries using bicycles,” said Loaves & Fishes Centers Executive Director Joan Smith. “We want to make volunteer opportunities available to as many people as possible, and this method of delivery is far better for the environment. We’re excited that so many people are rallying around this project!”
Meals-On-Wheels are delivered Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. For more information about the Meals On Two Wheels program, to donate a trailer or to volunteer to deliver meals using a bike, visit www.mealsontwowheels.org. For additional information about Loaves & Fishes Centers, to make a donation or to volunteer to deliver meals using a car, visit www.loavesandfishesonline.org or phone 503.736.6325.
Since 1970 Loaves & Fishes Centers has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 31 meal sites in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and Meals-On-Wheels delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of more than 7,400 volunteers, the nonprofit, secular agency now serves 5,000 meals daily and more than 1.4 million meals each year.
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