Building is closed through July 12 for asbestos removal

By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

While much of everyday life has come to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, hunger does not take a break. Thanks to Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels and its more than 100 volunteers, seniors and other vulnerable people in Baldwinsville continue to receive meals.

“Through the whole COVID [situation] we’ve been there every day, and I’m really proud of what we’ve been doing,” Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels Director Donna Metz said.

The organization, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, has received an influx of new clients during the pandemic, bringing the total number of people served to 110. Metz said B’ville MOW serves more than 800 meals each week.

For the next couple of weeks, however, Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels’ operations are on hold during asbestos abatement in the dining room of Canton Woods Senior Center, which is home to the MOW kitchen and office. Metz said volunteers were concerned about the health effects of exposure to asbestos dust, so they spent the last few weeks preparing for the closure.

“We sent out emergency meals, shelf-stable meals and frozen meals to our clients,” Metz said. “It really hurts that we’ve got to close for two weeks.”

During the shutdown, which began June 29, minor improvements will be made to the MOW kitchen, including painting. The building will reopen July 13.

The Meals on Wheels office received a much-needed facelift in 2019. For his Eagle Scout project, Nate Durkin remodeled and repainted the office and installed new counters, desks and technological equipment. Metz said Durkin’s grandmother, Ruth Davis, is a MOW board member and kitchen volunteer.

“Our office before — it was a shamble and now it’s beautiful. He did such a great job. It’s just wonderful,” she said.

Among Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels’ many supporters are G&C Foods, Community Bank, the Horwood C. and Alene S. Jones Foundation, Mr. Jacobs, Female Charitable, Joe Saraceni, The Lions Club, Onondaga County Legislator Ken Bush, BJ’s, Tops, Terri Stamp, Sysco, the B’ville Diner, New York State Assembly candidate Gail Tosh, JessiCakes, Wesleyan Community Church, Baldwinsville Bottle Redemption, Canton Woods Craft Ladies, Sky Howard, Baldwinsville Mayor Dick Clarke, Girl Scouts and AARP.

Community support is even more vital to organizations like Meals on Wheels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Metz said the pandemic forced MOW to cancel at least two major fundraisers: the annual Dress to Impress fashion show, sponsored by Christopher & Banks, and a Father’s Day breakfast, organized by the Jordan-Elbridge Lions Club. The organization’s summer barbecue and fall pork dinner are in limbo as well.

“We don’t get government grants or anything like that. We’ve had to cancel two fundraisers. A big one for us was our fashion show, which would have been in the beginning of May,” Metz said. “We don’t even know when Christopher & Banks will reopen.”

Metz said the fashion show is a popular event that has sold out in the past.

“Ladies come from all over — young and old. We usually have about 17 models too,” she said. “They come for the desserts and the food and to see the clothes and to see Grandma June.”

Grandma June is June Davis, a perennial Dress to Impress model and MOW client who turned 98 last month.

“She is as Irish as they come with her golden-red curly hair. She lives at St. Mary’s Apartments, loves to play cards, loves her Word of Life Church. She teaches exercise at St. Mary’s Apartments and is a spitfire,” Metz said. “Her favorite saying is, ‘Remember I am the one that loves you.’”

Another of B’ville MOW’s esteemed clients is Bernice Burnap, who turned 101 on May 21. Metz said Burnap is an avid Yankees fan who likes to keep up with her MOW drivers.

“She’ll know every driver’s name and if they go on vacation,” Metz said.

Clients like Grandma June and Bernice rely on Meals on Wheels for their nutrition as well as much-needed social interaction. Metz encourages the community to continue to donate. Visit bvillemow.org or send a check to Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels, 76 Canton St., Baldwinsville, NY 13027. To learn more or to schedule a drop-off of shelf-stable food items, contact 315-638-2171 or [email protected].