Nonprofits Meals on Wheels, CROSS Services Hit Hard by Rising Gas Prices
Kindness can be displayed in a number of different ways, and for the past three months, Joanne Reinhart has used her car to extend a helping hand to those in need.
Reinhart volunteers for the Meals on Wheels program, delivering hot meals to seniors and other homebound people around the northwest metro.
“I retired from my nursing career of 45 years, July of last year,” Reinhart said. “And I knew that I wanted to do something to give back, something helping, because that’s what I did as a nurse, and this kind of fulfills that.”
The half dozen people on Reinhart’s route appreciate the periodic visits.
Joanne Reinhart made a delivery for Meals on Wheels on March 7.
“The food is good and the people that bring it are just super,” said Janet Jette of Maple Grove. “They kind of check up on me at the same time to make sure I’m okay, which I am.”
It’s a valuable service that’s about to become more expensive for Meals on Wheels drivers.
Anyone who’s filled up their tank in the last couple weeks will notice that the price at the pump is nearing $4 a gallon.
‘Impact across the board’
“We’re definitely seeing an impact and worried about the future impact if these prices keep going up,” said Amy Huck, a program coordinator with CROSS Services.
CROSS Services is a social service agency based in Rogers that operates a food shelf and runs the Meals on Wheels program. The non-profit is already starting to feel the effects of the rise in gas prices.
“We see the impact across the board,” Huck said. “From the trucks getting the food to us, going to pick up the food and bringing the food here, to our residents — they’re coming in asking for gas cards to help them get to and from work.”
It’s anybody’s guess as to how long the price at the pump will stay at, or surpass, the current levels, but for people like Reinhart (who’s lucky enough to drive a fuel-efficient Toyata Prius), she plans to keep delivering meals, regardless of the increased cost.
“I filled up on Saturday and it was $3.09 and I’m thinking oh please, just hold, but it probably won’t,” she said.
