God reserves the right to answer prayers in unexpected ways.
That may have been the case when an anonymous donor came to the rescue of the Warren County’s Meals on Wheels charity which delivers dinners daily to some 230 elderly, disabled and shut-in neighbors.
“When it looked like the McMinnville City Board was going to strike out the annual contribution to the program, there was a Facebook post calling for prayers that the funding be restored,” said Nancy Mayfield, executive director of Warren County Home Delivery Meals, commonly known as Meals on Wheels.
“I got the sense that this post was asking for prayers that members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen might change their mind before they take a second reading on the budget later this month,” she continued. “Maybe God decided to use a different source of funding.”
In any event, a private donor showed up at the Meals on Wheels kitchen a few hours after the social media post and handed Mayfield his personal check for $4,000.
“This wonderful person apparently felt the need to step up during this uncertain time and brought us this generous donation,” she said of the McMinnville businessman who insisted on remaining unidentified.
When contacted for a comment, the unnamed donor was focused on doing more through Meals on Wheels, not just maintaining the program at a status quo level.
“They could serve more people if they just had more (volunteer) drivers to deliver the dinners,” he said. On average, there are some 80-100 such drivers covering hundreds of miles of city streets and rural roads every week, according to Mayfield. Those volunteers cover their vehicle expenses, including fuel, maintenance and insurance, out of their own pockets.
With tight financial management and frequent donations of foodstuffs, the non-profit agency is able to produce high-quality, nutritious meals for a little over $5 each. But the cost of at-the-door delivery could easily add another $3-4 per unit, Mayfield observed. “Tremendous credit goes to our delivery drivers because we couldn’t make this work without them,” she emphasized.
As for his motivation in making the timely donation, the donor reflected on the relative condition of need among all people.
“It you think you’ve having a bad day, just look around and you'll see people having a much worse time.” When people have to struggle to buy basic food and life-supporting medicines while paying utility bills, rent and other living expenses and are dealing with illness and disabilities, that’s genuine need, he stressed.
He cited the case of one Meals on Wheels recipient who has no arms. “Somehow he manages to get food to his mouth and do all the other basics of daily life.”
As a local, community-resourced charity, Warren County Home Delivery Meals operates under a board of directors, including retired banker Lester Cowell.
Other board members are: community volunteer Linda Bernhardt, Karen Burks of Burks Insurance Agency, Dana Green of Citizens Tri-County Bank, Raya Kirby Chilcutt of Kirby Real Estate, Security Federal Bank Vice President Danny Martin, volunteer Mary Anne Noblin, Elaine Rains of Rains Construction Company and Bill Zechman, State Farm Insurance agent. In addition to Mayfield as executive director, the staff includes Tabitha Rucker, assistant director.
Major sources of funding include donations from individuals and businesses, contributions from other organizations and governments and service contracts and grants with Upper Cumberland Human Resource Center.
Memorial gifts in remembrance of loved ones or friends are also a significant and helpful part of the total fund-raising effort, Mayfield said. Donations may be mailed to Meals on Wheels, 106 East End Dr, McMinnville TN 37110.
