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Wednesday, April16, 2003 - Page 10 FEATURES SI'011:.'6"1 ON SErtV'CE ~ 60 SECONDS Meals on wheels, rolling your way! . you think people believe in stereotypes? KATIE I\1ARTIN put together to meet 213 of the daily nutri- By Tiffany Lee Assislanr Ne"'s Edilor tional requirements for an adult. While the Meals on Wheels of Carroll County de- central kitchen facility is a converted livers approximately 39,000 meals to Safeway building in Baltimore, this process homebound people each year, deliveries takes place at a Salvation Army Building. made solely by volunteers. "We areal ways Volunteer deliverers then head out on pre looking for volunteers" says planned routes in their own vehicles from ProgramAdroinisrrator Debbie Porterfield, II am to I pm to take the meals to the cli- "When students volunteer for us we love it, ents. One veteran volunteer, Mary Wessel, we love it." wbo visits approximately 6 houses every Meals on Wheels is a non profit organi- day said, "1 know the satisfaction the clients zation dedicated to enhancing quality of life get out of it. We can only stay a few min- for its clients through the provi- sian of utes, but it is rewarding to see how they re- nutritious meals, personal " act to getting a visitor every day and enjoy- contact, and other services trips, ? ing a meal." such as grocery shopping While the major- "Believing a stereotype "Because their "Stereotypes are what home safety assessments, and ity of volunteers individuals, book requests. are is easier than if is to influenced by media most people use to :~an~hh~:I~~~:' -~=~=J~=~~~'~ some organiza- Carroll Tbe County.·_=---':::"",.-I. lake the time out and and it's an easy way to explain why others are effort to get to know say you know different from ~~~~e~hat ~ai:~ people on an individual something instead of themselves. It's much been in operation ~ Meals on Wheels basis. " actually going out and easier to accept them since 1972, with its inc Iud e -Brad Walker '05 learning about it. " than toform an beginnings tied di- Westminster Communication -Chrystal Sterling '04 original opinion about rectly to the formerly Union Bank, Biology something. known Western Maryland College. So- Change Inc, the -Ebony White '05 Sociology "People are just as hungry the day before Thanksgiv- ing, and every other Thursday." ciology Professor Earl Griswald and his students conducted a survey to discover the Junior Women's League of Westminster, Li- needs of the elderly in the area. The survey onesses Clubs, Ladies of the Elks. Girl and identified a need for a Meals on Wheels pro- Boy Scout Troops, various schools. and also gram, wh.ich Carroll County's First Commis- some McDaniel College fraternities and so- sion on Aging then helped to start. rorities. Approximately 100 Meals on Wheels cli- Not all volunteers work directly with the ents are currently served by l85 volunteers food packaging and distribution. Porterfield every Monday through Friday during the says, "some will make little favors or gifts "People develop "People believe ''I think people believe year, including bol.idays. Porterfield com- that we distribute with tbe meals, and I am stereotupes from their stereotypes because of stereotypes because it's ments on how many focus on feeding the telling you it makes some or our clients cry own experience. J their misconceptions easier than thinking for needy during Thanksgiving. but how Meals to know that someone is thinking of them." every this day. tackles think it's because of influenced by the yourself or taking the on Wheels are just as hungary task the day before The majority of the funding for Meals on "People lack of education and media and plain time to get to know the Thanksgiving, and every other Thursday," Wheels come from the federal government's exposure to different ignorance. " people that break the she says. Older Americans Act, but donations are an- people. If a person is -Felicia "Flecky" stereotype." Being homebound determines clients eli- other way one can aid Meals on Wheels. orga- "Donations groups, from individuals, not open-minded they Donelson 05' -Jacqut Kellner '04 gibility, as they are therefore unable to shop nizations, and churches are huge contribu- will not change their Political Science Sociology or cook for themselves. Porterfield empha- tions." Porterfield says. Meals on Wheels beliefs. " sizes the importance of the service done by also fundraises through an annual culinary -Faniska Lopez- volunteers because it allows people to remain extravaganza in Baltimore. Gonzalez '04 60 SECONDS is always looking for independently living in their homes. "People Porterfield says, "Carroll County is un- Philosophy interesting questions to ask. What's on can go directly home from a hospital or leave believable in giving us community support." 2 weeks earlier ... and center a rehabilitation that are inter- your mind? If you have a suggestion, when they are taking care of themselves that Any students or organizations the school year during ested in volunteering please place it in the drop box at the helps their self esteem" work each day from 9 or the summer is asked to call (410) 857- Volunteer packers information desk. am to 11 am, portioning and packing the 4447. One can also visit the Central Mary- at online Wheels on Meals land ~~~~~~~~ meals. One hOI meal and one cold meal are SGA CORNER CARMIE SPECK & NICOLE GRIMM SlUffWrirer< Currently. the SGA has completed the surveys about how the students feel about adding more reading days during finals. The surveys cov~red th? ~pinions of a~ut one third of the student body, and SGA i~ in the process of compiling and analyzing the data. If the surveys indicate a want for more reading days, this issue will be addressed and hopefully changed by the end of next semester. The Academic Com- mittee will focus on the survey responses for the remainder of {he semester. The executive elections for SGA have been pushed back and will now be held on April 15. 16, and 17. All underclassmen are encouraged (0 vote in this eleCti~n. ~Iec- {ions for class officers will be held on April 22, 23, and 24. Look for campaign signs around campus to see who the candidates are.