ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Two Meals on Wheels volunteers are helping each other heal through giving after the loss of their husbands.
The spirit of giving can be infectious and spreads joy beyond its original intention. Debbie Daniel and Brenda Gerard deliver food for Meals on Wheels together every week, but their friendship didn’t begin with their volunteer work, as Daniel explained.
“My husband passed away in 2018. I met Brenda and a whole bunch of other ladies who had lost their husbands and had been looking for a way to serve the Lord in any capacity that I could. He led me to this sweet lady to help serve Meals on Wheels,” Daniel explained.
Abilene business spreads holiday joy with Toys for Tots donation
Brenda Gerard had been volunteering with Abilene’s branch of Meals on Wheels for more than six years. When she started, she was usually accompanied by her husband on their donation route, but when her husband passed, it left an emptiness in her weekly deliveries. That is when she met Debbie Daniel at a support group for women who have become widowed. Since introducing Debbie to the volunteer service, the two have become known as the dream team within the Meals on Wheels delivery circle, and Gerard spoke about what makes their connection so strong.
“We try to keep it fun. We laugh, and we laugh a lot. Keep it light-hearted, but we understand the seriousness of what we’re doing. We both share the commonality that we feel like the Lord led us to do this,” Gerard shared.
Anson Meals on Wheels program closing, Abilene to take over delivery
This year, Meals on Wheels saw some help in their outreach, with H-E-B sponsoring all of their clientele’s meals for the day as part of their ‘Feast of Sharing’ campaign that helped feed around 1,400 people in the community with Meals on Wheels alone. Executive Director for Meals on Wheels Abilene, Betty Bradley, explained how donations and volunteers like Debbie and Brenda are at the top of their needs list.
“It’s been pretty challenging this year. They’re calling in faster than we can get out and visit them, certify them, and enroll them. So, we’re going ahead and serving them and have faith that the donations will come in to pay for it,” Bradley said.
Whether it was intended or not, meeting the needs of the Abilene community has helped Debbie and Brenda cultivate a lasting friendship. They both said, “You just feel so blessed after you’ve been able to have someone, and I think that it has helped our relationship grow.” “No doubt.” “And just became very solid friends.” “Very solid friends.”
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Two Meals on Wheels volunteers are helping each other heal through giving after the loss of their husbands.
The spirit of giving can be infectious and spreads joy beyond its original intention. Debbie Daniel and Brenda Gerard deliver food for Meals on Wheels together every week, but their friendship didn’t begin with their volunteer work, as Daniel explained.
“My husband passed away in 2018. I met Brenda and a whole bunch of other ladies who had lost their husbands and had been looking for a way to serve the Lord in any capacity that I could. He led me to this sweet lady to help serve Meals on Wheels,” Daniel explained.
Abilene business spreads holiday joy with Toys for Tots donation
Brenda Gerard had been volunteering with Abilene’s branch of Meals on Wheels for more than six years. When she started, she was usually accompanied by her husband on their donation route, but when her husband passed, it left an emptiness in her weekly deliveries. That is when she met Debbie Daniel at a support group for women who have become widowed. Since introducing Debbie to the volunteer service, the two have become known as the dream team within the Meals on Wheels delivery circle, and Gerard spoke about what makes their connection so strong.
“We try to keep it fun. We laugh, and we laugh a lot. Keep it light-hearted, but we understand the seriousness of what we’re doing. We both share the commonality that we feel like the Lord led us to do this,” Gerard shared.
Anson Meals on Wheels program closing, Abilene to take over delivery
This year, Meals on Wheels saw some help in their outreach, with H-E-B sponsoring all of their clientele’s meals for the day as part of their ‘Feast of Sharing’ campaign that helped feed around 1,400 people in the community with Meals on Wheels alone. Executive Director for Meals on Wheels Abilene, Betty Bradley, explained how donations and volunteers like Debbie and Brenda are at the top of their needs list.
“It’s been pretty challenging this year. They’re calling in faster than we can get out and visit them, certify them, and enroll them. So, we’re going ahead and serving them and have faith that the donations will come in to pay for it,” Bradley said.
Whether it was intended or not, meeting the needs of the Abilene community has helped Debbie and Brenda cultivate a lasting friendship. They both said, “You just feel so blessed after you’ve been able to have someone, and I think that it has helped our relationship grow.” “No doubt.” “And just became very solid friends.” “Very solid friends.”
