For Marty Yachisko, 41 years of volunteering and supervising work with Meals on Wheels is her way of adding to others’ lives. The Indiana Meals on Wheels program began in 1971, and Yachisko began volunteering in 1974 as a driver, kitchen helper, grocery shopper and scheduler for the drivers. After being asked several times to consider moving into a supervisory position, she finally accepted in 1980. Even though her duties have shifted, she still spends four days a week helping in whatever way she can. The Indiana woman said she particularly enjoys the position because of the varied people she has met and interacted with. She describes all of the volunteers as friendly and said she enjoys getting to know some of the people they deliver to. She even teasingly added that she has been told to write a book about the comical moments that take place in the kitchen and during deliveries. She’s sure it would be a “best-seller.” “The volunteers are all very nice, but they wouldn’t be volunteering if they weren’t,” she said with a chuckle. Currently, there are 120 volunteers working with Indiana’s Meals on Wheels, an organization that delivers hot meals to people unable to cook for themselves, with a shift of 10 workers a day that rotate every other week. Yachisko encourages others to get involved. “We can always use volunteers,” she said. “It’s only two days a month and three hours a day at the most.” She also would like to see younger people get involved. She believes volunteering may be a dying breed and thinks it is beneficial to have perspectives shifted away from ourselves and onto others’ needs. When she isn’t supervising at Meals on Wheels, she dedicates her time volunteering at St. Andrew’s Village, Indiana Regional Medical Center and her church, Graystone Presbyterian. “Volunteering makes you realize that there are people worse off than you,” she said. “And it is a rewarding thing to help others.” Not only has her volunteering helped others, but it has also benefited her. When Yachisko began as a volunteer, she said, she was very quiet and unsure of her abilities. Now, because of her experiences, she finds that she is a more outgoing person, more positive and more confident. Even though Yachisko has changed, overall, the organization has remained the same. The only drastic change has been in the meal price. As food costs have risen, the price of meals has gone up. When the organization started, a meal was $1.50; now the meals are $5. But meal costs are kept low by donations; the annual Giant Eagle golf tournament fundraiser that generates between $5,000 and $6,000; and the Indiana American Legion’s kitchen, which is provided at no cost. “We would not be able to operate without them,” she said. “They, the American Legion, are very generous.” The organization currently has three routes that deliver to Indiana Borough, White Township and Homer City. Although they do not deliver to Homer City directly, volunteers come to Indiana to assist in preparation and then return and distribute the meals there. As far as preparation goes, Yachisko’s day begins at 7:30 a.m. in the kitchen so that she can make sure that everything is ready for the volunteers who will arrive to prepare the food around 8 a.m. After the food is packaged, the drivers arrive and deliver the food while the meal volunteers wash the dishes. After the drivers return around noon, the day is over and they all go home. “We are currently delivering about 60 meals a day, five days a week,” she said. They also serve meals on all holidays except Veterans Day. To volunteer for Meals on Wheels, call (724) 463-7676.

 

 

View more photo galleries by Post 141 in Indiana, Pennsylvania