Caring for Others

Roy Brewer is 93 years old. He is blind, and after the recent death of his wife of 74 years, Joyce, he lives alone. No longer having his sight, he has learned to navigate his home by touch. His neighbor, Mr. Appleton, has stepped in to help him with his affairs, assisting with automatic bill payments and checking in daily, but he doesn't cook.

Two years ago, Roy and Joyce started receiving Meals on Wheels and Roy recalls being pleasantly surprised by the food. Joyce's mother had received meals many years before; "I saw some of her meals, so I wasn't expecting much," he chuckles.

After receiving meals for a little over a year, Joyce passed away, leaving Roy alone in the home they shared for five decades. "I've studied long and strong about giving up the house and going into assisted living. But this has been home for 55 years—I like it, I know it, and I can get around even though I'm blind."

Roy is lucky. He has a support structure enabling him to remain in his home. He has caring neighbors and dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers. Roy's volunteers go a step further by placing the meal in front of him on his dining room table and describing it. Roy smiles, "they're just like family."

Roy recently donated to Meals on Wheels in memory of Joyce. "Meals on Wheels is doing a wonderful thing; it's caring for other people—and that's the main thing right there."

To learn more about how you can help us continue assisting people like Roy, or how to make a gift in honor of someone important to you, please contact Vinsen Faris at 210-735-5115 or VinsenF@mowsatx.org.