Police Chief Donates Time with Meals for Mayors

Every Wednesday for four years Sarah Shuttleworth makes her usual route.

First she visits William Gorman, whom she often spends extra time with talking about politics.

Then she heads up Essex Road, over to Woodland Avenue, down Hartley Road, continues down Morris Avenue, makes a loop down Lafayette and then heads back into town via New England Avenue.

Shuttleworth is a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

On Wednesday, Shuttleworth and other volunteers were partnered with local dignitaries who joined them on their routes. Happily for Shuttleworth, she was partnered with someone she's volunteered with before: Police Chief Robert Lucid.

Lucid participated during "Mayors for Meals" Day which is part of the "March For Meals" campaign.

"It is vital that the officials get a sense of these home-bound people who are often 'hidden' from the community," said Marianne Kranz, SAGE Eldercare's Director of Meals of Wheels. "SAGE volunteers are often the only people checking in on these individuals and without the support of local government and officials we wouldn't be able to do our job."

In Summit alone, Meals on Wheels serviced 56 clients in 2009. SAGE overall delivered 58,730 meals to 267 people in Union and Morris County, about 4,000 more meals than in 2008. Meals are delivered six days a week in some cases and are planned by registered dieticians. In Union County, residents receive a hot lunch, cold supper and a milk.

Shuttleworth said her route can often take more than an hour because of the personal attention she gives to many of her clients. Some have asked her to leave their meals on front porches or in apartment complex lobbies, but many others invite her into their home to talk, not just about their own problems, but to ask Shuttleworth about her own life.

"I get a lot of satisfaction out of this," the 25-year Summit resident said.

On one visit Wednesday, Chief Lucid even got to catch up with an old friend he hadn't seen in years. Mike Sereno, former owner of Uncle Mike's (now the Huntley Tavern), participates in Meals on Wheels because he recently broke his hip. Lucid and Sereno reminisced about the good 'ole days at Uncle Mikes, enjoying some of the memorabilia Sereno has hanging on a wall near his bed. 

But whether Shuttleworth, and on Wednesday Lucid, spent one minute or 10 with a person, all of those they encountered expressed their gratitude for their volunteerism and for the program.

"This is really wonderful," Angela Masino said. "It's a great service."