To the Editor: 

Almost 50 years ago, I attended a United Methodist Women’s meeting and heard about a new program called Meals on Wheels. In a few weeks, I was employed by the new board and started recruiting volunteers to deliver meals to older folks daily. In a couple of years, a new program was started at the Convent to serve a meal each day to folks who were able to get out of their homes. It was called Friends United to Serve the Elderly (FUSE). Then a few years later Reverend Franklin Edwards retired and began working to develop Retired Senior Volunteer Programs in Kansas and I soon became the secretary with David Lake as the director, and later the director. Older folks were recruited to volunteer all over town, from Meals on Wheels to the Congregate Meals to Schools and many non-profit organizations in town. Later these programs expanded to Hoisington and Ellinwood. These programs were funded by government agencies and local organizations.

Now it sounds like things are headed back to 50 years ago. Wonder where they will put the “County Poor Farm” when people are not able to stay in their homes and cannot afford a long term care facility.

Please, those of you who are reading this, think about when you went with your mom to deliver Meals on Wheels to some old lady or a person came to your school and listened to you read. Do you want things to go back 50 years? Please work with local governments and organizations to keep these vital programs going in your community. I cannot remember the more than 400 volunteers who provided so much service, but appreciated them all. After I retired, the program has continued to expand and helps many people in additional ways.

I do not live in Great Bend any more, but I care for the people who supported the programs I hold dear and pray that they will be allowed to continue.

Mary Lou Warren

Minneola