Orange County Meals on Wheels Trying to Get Back on Track

The Orange County Meals on Wheels program is back in business, one day after employees returned from their evacuation and discovered burglars had caused thousands of dollars worth of damage, and ruined hundreds of pounds of food.

A friendly greeting, and a reminder Orange County Meals on Wheels is still rolling.

"Hey, I'll take my vehicle and go where ever need to go and that's it," says Phyllis Richard, an employee in the Kitchen for Meals on Wheels and a volunteer for deliveries.

Phyllis Richard got in her car, and along with other volunteers, went door to door bringing canned food and boxed drinks to the elderly and disabled.

"The elderly look forward for a hot meal once a day. So that's where we step in and I love every part of that," says Richard.

But that hot meal was put on hold when burglars broke into the building last weekend, cut the electricity, and ruined tens of thousands of dollars worth of food.

"Really, really hurt, it really affected me bad," says Richard.

The damage reached beyond the kitchen, to the vans used to deliver lunches.

"We don't have the money to replace it, but we believe some how it will be replaced," says the Orange County Action Association Director, Linda Hughes.

The director says they've received more than a thousand dollars, and food donations, since Wednesday.

"Maybe it's their neighbor that wouldn't get a meal or maybe their grandma or grandpa that wouldn't get a good meal," says Hughes.

Even though the freezers are still empty, volunteers say they're just happy to help those who are in need, so they don't go without.

"Just thank you and see you later. That's it, that's all I need is thank you, cause when you're appreciated, you don't mind doing anything," says Richard.

Thanks to a generous donation, Orange County Meals on Wheels will be able to deliver hot lunches tomorrow.

If you would like to make a donation call 886-2186.