GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Meals on Wheels volunteers Milton Goings, left, Linh Lopez, Neome Olaguer, Kretia Pangelinan and Kumiko Ward waved to passing motorists yesterday at the entrance to the Tesoro gas station at 759 S. King St. The volunteers were promoting Tesoro Hawaii's charitable donations to two Meals on Wheels programs.

Fill 'em up!

Fuel cards from Tesoro Hawaii help two Meals on Wheels programs

THOUSANDS of Oahu homebound seniors and disabled people would be hungry and alone if not for volunteers in two Meals on Wheels programs.

"There are times when meals only are secondary, when the greatest need is to check on seniors," said Remy Rueda, director of Lanakila Rehabilitation Center's Meals on Wheels.

"Last week, we found a senior on the floor and had to call an ambulance," she said. "In my 14 years of doing the job, I would say I've saved quite a few lives."

Personal contact is even more important than hot meals, agreed Claire Shimabukuro, Hawaii Meals on Wheels executive director. Seeing the volunteers every day is "very life-affirming and life-giving" for clients, many of whom are isolated, she said.

"Sometimes, volunteers might be the only people clients see in a whole day. They are the first-line safety device. I can't tell you how many times they make a difference between life and death."

Needs are growing with Hawaii's aging population, the Meals on Wheels directors said yesterday after receiving $5,000 in gasoline fuel cards from Tesoro.

The fuel cards will be used to help volunteers cope with rising gas prices and continue deliveries, as well as to recruit more volunteers and expand routes.

Volunteers wearing Meals on Wheels T-shirts waved "Tesoro for Meals" signs at passing motorists during the presentation at the Tesoro station at 759 S. King St.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii Meals on Wheels Executive Director Claire Shimabukuro, left, Tesoro Hawaii Community Relations Director Jeanette Mukai and Lanakila Rehabilitation Center Meals on Wheels Director Remy Rueda hold a box of gas cards valued at $5,000.

Tesoro also has pledged at least $100,000 to the Meals on Wheels Association of America Foundation.

Jeanette Mukai, Tesoro Hawaii community relations director, said the company presented $3,500 in gas cards to Hawaii Meals on Wheels earlier this year, then became aware of the Lanakila program. She said Tesoro will continue to support the programs and look at ways employees can become involved.

The Lanakila Meals on Wheels program began with group dining centers in 1971 and added home-delivered meals in 1980. The Rehabilitation Center's central kitchen at 1809 Bachelot St. and Kahuku Hospital are used to prepare meals.

The $250,000-a-year program delivered 408,272 meals last year to 3,991 people on 110 routes and at 29 group dining centers.

"It still is not meeting the needs," Rueda said, commending Tesoro for "realizing the issue of senior hunger."

The Lanakila program has 420 volunteers Monday through Friday delivering meals and at dining sites. More than 6,000 volunteers, including students, help on holidays.

Hawaii Meals on Wheels began in 1979 with two routes in Makiki and Moiliili, six clients, six volunteers and $25.

Last year, 1,050 meals were delivered to 239 residents from East Honolulu to Kapolei, Kaneohe and Kailua. About 86 percent of the 8,707 delivery routes are covered by 320 volunteers.

Shirley Morgado said she signed up as a Hawaii Meals on Wheels volunteer, delivering meals in East Manoa, after retiring May 1 from the Honolulu Police Department.

She said she was advised to get Meals on Wheels for her stepfather five years ago after he had a stroke and she took him home from the hospital. The program accommodated his diabetes and low-sugar requirements, she said.

"It was such a rewarding thing to see my dad not only get a meal, but someone checking on him," Morgado said. "He enjoyed the meals delivered and talking to the volunteers.

"'I said, 'When I retire, that's what I'm going to do.' You couldn't have a better high than delivering for Meals on Wheels."