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Estate gift of $224,933.81 to Meals on Wheels aims to expand deliveries and replace kitchen equipment
Summary
Haywood County's Meals on Wheels program received a $224,933.81 gift from the estate of longtime volunteer Linda Smathers Robinson. County staff said the funds will support meals, bring some people off the waiting list and pay for kitchen equipment replacements.
Haywood County officials on May 19 accepted a $224,933.81 gift to the county's Meals on Wheels program from the estate of volunteer Linda Smathers Robinson, who served more than 30 years delivering meals to homebound residents.
Ira Dove, who presented the check on behalf of the county's Health and Human Services unit, said the donation is "a wonderful gift" and will be used for kitchen equipment and to expand meal deliveries to people on the program's waiting list. "This program is 50 years old and this gift helps keep people in their homes," Dove said.
Gayla Jones, the county's social work director, told commissioners Meals on Wheels served about 165 individuals in fiscal 202324 and delivered 25,957 meals; the program also runs a volunteer cadre of roughly 70 people and maintains a waiting list. Jones said the program provides four days of delivered meals each week (five meals per recipient) and offers shelf-stable boxes for recipients during inclement weather.
Program staff emphasized kitchen-equipment needs. Jones and staff said the Meals on Wheels steamer and other kitchen equipment are nearing the end of useful life, and donors and community partners provide pet food and nonperishable boxes to recipients. Michelle Haines, the program's business services director, and kitchen supervisor Tony McClure were present for the check presentation; Stephanie Willis, the donor's daughter, accompanied the gift presentation.
Why it matters: the donation will fund both immediate meal delivery needs and capital replacement at the meals kitchen, allowing the program to serve more homebound older adults and to reduce the waiting list for recipients who need regular nutrition and wellness checks.
Next steps: program leaders said the money will be applied to kitchen equipment replacements, meal packaging supplies and direct service delivery; the Meals on Wheels office is part of the county's Health and Human Services operations and accepts volunteers year-round.
