Through wind and storm, snow and rain, the meals must be delivered. Dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers make sure their clients can count on their meals, no matter what. To show appreciation for that dedication, Palmerton's Meals on Wheels volunteers were treated to a picnic meal of their own at the Palmerton Memorial Park on Wednesday prepared by Blue Mountain Health Care-Palmerton Campus kitchen.

"We have an amazing group of people," says Darlene Nothstein, MOW's president of the board of directors of the volunteers.According to coordinator Richard Bowman, there are 18 full-time drivers and seven part-time drivers who deliver meals to 18 clients in Palmerton and its immediate surrounding area. There are 11 board members.Meals on Wheels of Palmerton began in 1972 by Dr. Jane Goplerud and Carolyn (Peg) Siller, the original founders and coordinators. The nonprofit 501c3 organization provides meals prepared at the Palmerton Hospital for residents in the community who cannot prepare their own. The meals are delivered by volunteers.The clients' nutritional and dietary needs are screened, and meals are planned accordingly based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet.Besides delivering meals, the drivers are sometimes the only visitors these clients receive, providing a means of checking on their well-being as well.MOW runs almost entirely on its volunteers and donations."We thank the community for coming out to support us through their donations. The whole program is amazing, from the folks at the Blue Mountain Health Care-Palmerton Campus kitchen who make the meals, to the amount of volunteers involved, to the board that supports us. It all comes together to make the program a success. We are blessed," Nothstein said.Nothstein's two granddaughters, Sarah Hope, 8, and Emma Hope, 11, made "thank you" hearts for each volunteer.Meals on Wheels is always looking for more volunteers and donations.For more information, contact Bowman at 610-826-1163. Donations can be sent to Richard Bowman, 135 Lafayette Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071.