(Memphis) While many of you rushed to open your presents Christmas morning, about 100 volunteers with MIFA were busy dropping off hot holiday meals to the needy.
“Here is your bag of gifts and meal,” said volunteer Linda Marks.
It’s the little things that matter when even speaking doesn’t come easy
“Happy new year,” said Charles Johnson.
“He has multiple sclerosis and he had a heart attack and he had a stroke so he is totally disabled,” said Hytercine Johnson.
Hytercine has been married to her husband for 42 years, and he’s been in a hospital bed for the last seven.
On this Christmas morning , MIFA volunteers gave him a bed-side delivery.
“It’s a blessing to meet you all,” said Marks.
“It’s a blessing and we really appreciate all that MIFA does,” said Johnson.
MIFA gives out meals every day of the week to more than 1,200 families in Shelby County who are either elderly, disabled, or in crisis.
On Christmas morning, volunteers like Linda Marks and Kathey Stubbs bring by not only food, but also gifts and season’s greetings.
While volunteers work to hand out hot meals to senior citizens that might be living alone, sometimes the unexpected happens.
Linda and Kathey came to an apartment in South Memphis, expecting to give a meal to an elderly woman, but instead found her grandchildren there. They learned the woman had passed away three days earlier.
“It’s actually his grandmother, but I call her my grandmother,” said the woman in the apartment. “Unfortunately, my mom and dad haven’t been in my life, so with them just stepping in, taking their place, I really appreciate it.”
Linda and Kathy had a meal for them too.
“It means a lot to me. It means a lot to me,” said Greg Jackson.
“We are the ones giving but frankly, we are the ones receiving,” said Stubbs.
“Our Christmas is already double blessed,” said Marks.
They say meeting the grandchildren and the Johnsons were Christmas gifts they wouldn’t have found under a tree.
“It really makes you know that we are all brothers and sisters,” said Marks.
If you would like to volunteer for the MIFA “Meals on Wheels” program next Christmas or any day of the week, you can call 901-527-0208.
