Glenn Sargent is the Elder overseeing the Creekwood Meals on Wheels program. The list of meal recipients is maintained by Marcelle Perry. Applications for delivery are usually sent to Marcelle. She evaluates the situation of the potential recipients based on a certain set of requirements. The program is need-based, usually for people who cannot otherwise prepare their own meals. The program delivers two meals per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to approximately 60 people. The healthy and tasty meals are prepared by 14 certified food handlers and are delivered by 16 volunteers. All the meals are prepared and delivered at no cost to the recipients. The entire work of the Meals on Wheels program is performed on a volunteer basis. If you think you have some time to assist with this great work, please contact Glenn Sargent.
History of the Creekwood Meals on Wheels Program
The Meals on Wheels program was started in 1978 after Sage Avenue Church of Christ members made a trip to the Madison Church of Christ in Tennessee. Lula Whatley, after seeing the work that was done at Madison, talked with Nellie Butts and Claude Faulkenberry and the program had its start. Lula Whatley was in her 70s when this trip was made and when Meals on Wheels was started.
Claude and Nellie worked with the Mobile Health Department to meet their requirements for setting up the program. Within a few months’ time, Sage Avenue was serving meals planned by John Hill of Morrison’s Cafeteria. His goal was to have meals that were good, nourishing, and appealing to the eye. Nellie wanted meals that were nourishing and looked good with plenty of it in the trays.
Claude approved the people to be served by visiting them to assess their needs. The Meals on Wheels program got off to a good start with everyone helping who could. For a long time the workers cooked and delivered the meals but did not eat anything because they wanted to be sure there was enough to provide an extra meal if needed.
Through the 80s and early 90s, workers increased and Nellie had a lot of good help on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Some of the workers who helped and have passed on are: Jack and Lucy Pratt, Bill and Eloise Oelhafen, Ethel Moore, Gussie Girod, Olen and Mary Helen Jones, Johnny and Bootsie Phillips, and Brownie Sawyer. There were so many who assisted with the cooking, clean up, and serving over the years. Many good times were spent at Sage Avenue after the deliveries were made and the workers returned to enjoy the fellowship and meals. A few showed up because they smelled the salmon patties cooking and stayed because they enjoyed visiting with the workers.
From “A History of the Churches of Christ in Mobile”, compiled by Bob Hanks in 2007.