Conversations with Our Clients...

Mrs. Lorraine Triplet

I introduced myself to Lorraine Triplet on the phone and we started talking about Covid19  immediately. When asked if she has  experienced  anything like the virus in her life she responded "No, never, never, never." She is concerned about people's health but also very much about the financial strain that people are now feeling. She mentioned she was recently talking to her daughter about the situation and had many memories she shared with her about the Great Depression. Mrs.  Triplet was born in 1928 and raised in New Rochelle, she said she has seen a lot of changes  take place, she remembers the trolley cars running thru downtown. She remembers during the depression their rent was $25.00, they used oil lamps and they got their water from a well. "Everyone knew and helped each other, everyone left their doors unlocked." She felt fortunate during the depression that her father had a big garden and raised a lot of vegetables, they also had beautiful grape vines and they all helped to take care of the garden. She remembers everyone experienced hard times and there was dried milk and horse meat being sold in the store.
When we talked about the other viruses and flus she has experienced in her life she said her mother's brother died from the Spanish Flu. She also remembers clearly when Roosevelt's funeral train passed thru New Rochelle. The train was bringing Roosevelt's body from Washington to New York and she remembers her whole family went to the train station to watch the train pass and pay their respects (the train slowed down as it passed thru each station). She also added she had tuberculosis when she was five but not a very bad case.
"Stay on the porch and let the sun hit you" was the cure she said laughing.
Mrs. Triplet is very grateful now that she can stay safely in her apartment with the help of Meals-on-Wheels "I don't know what I would do with out you." She feels safe leaving a bag on her door for the volunteer to fill with her daily meal. She misses seeing the volunteers each day, she especially misses a group that delivered to her every week from the ARC of Westchester. (This is an agency that supports teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities). She loved when this group came each week because some of the girls loved to greet her with a big hug. Mrs. Triplet said "I looked forward to their visit and would say come give me my hug, we all had a nice laugh." Mrs. Triplet mentioned the importance that her religion has in her life "I think all of the volunteers will be rewarded for the good work that they are doing" she said.
As we were saying goodbye and I thanked Mrs. Triplet for her time, she said "If you ever deliver in my building, pop your head in when this is over and I can meet who I was talking to.”

Interview via phone by Maureen Palotta, May, 2020

Lorraine (R) with volunteer Ann Marie Peterson (L)

Conversations with Our Clients . . .

mrs. Ersaline Callender

Ersaline, a resident of new Rochelle for fifty-five years grew up in Mamaroneck.

Her career was a major part of her life. Ersaline taught elementary school in Rochester for three years. She returned to Mamaroneck, married and settled in New Rochelle. Ersaline was a teacher and guidance counselor in the White Plains Schools for forty years.

Ersaline said that she has never experienced anything like Covid-19 in her life. She did not get sick through any of the FLU seasons so she considers herself lucky --- very, very lucky!!!.

"Thank God for the Meals on Wheels program," she said. The food is nourishing "not gourmet" but good. The only thing she does not care for is the "meat loaf".

Ersaline found Meals-on-Wheels of New Rochelle after being in Rehab from surgery. She said she called around, looking for possible restaurant food deliveries but that didn't work out. She finally came upon Meals-on-Wheels of New Rochelle and found their program to be excellent, absolutely no problems. The volunteers are great people, very friendly and need to be APPLAUDED for their service.

She has developed a number of really special relationships — Pat Houlihan, Dan Long and his family, a retired fireman, couples and children of the volunteers.  Yes — she really enjoys their visits —each and every one!

Like everyone today, she finds herself talking on the phone to family and friends more often. She also enjoys spending time exercising, reading and playing bridge on her computer.

Interview via phone by Linda Andrews     April 28, 2020

Thank You to All Our Volunteers!

Do you know that April is National Volunteer Month?  Every day, we hear about heroes on the front lines - health care professionals, those working in grocery stores, food banks and those providing other essential services, our firefighters, police officers, and EMTs - all of whom are working tirelessly to serve others.
Meals-on-Wheels of New Rochelle’s volunteers also are true heroes. They show up every day
to pick up and deliver hot and cold meals to the elderly homebound in our New Rochelle community. 
Our volunteers have told us, “our experiences are life changing” and “we get more than we give.” Our clients say: “our volunteers are angels.”  Meals-on-Wheels of New Rochelle would not exist without our volunteers.
Now, more than ever, we need your help, too. Please donate in honor of our very own heroes - our volunteers.
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Also, please consider joining our new MOWNR Monthly Friendship Circle.
See our Donate page.

Thank you for your continued support!

Conversations with Our Clients...

Mr. Michael Libretta

I called Mr. Michael Libretta on a chilly, rainy Sunday afternoon. He asked if I could hold on while he turned down his Doo-Wop station and that's how our conversation began, about music, he likes to listen to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Mr. Libretta said he can not believe what is going on with COVID-19, he has never experienced anything like this in his entire life. He wonders if "maybe God is mad at us and wants us to shape up." He talks more on the phone now with his brother than he ever has in his life. They talk about things they have lived through Korea, Vietnam but never anything that has affected the entire world like COVID-19 has. He feels in some ways it is bringing people together "everybody is helping everyone else, getting closer." 

He doesn't know what he would do without Meals-on-Wheels, he misses the visit with the volunteers each day but is very thankful for the delivered meal. He mentioned a particular meal last week chicken with pasta and broccoli "delicious, cleaned my dish, I used bread to wipe my plate, it was just like I used to make." He also added he has never eaten as many vegetables as he has with MOW "I am going to live longer."

He was wondering how the mailmen are doing he hasn't heard anything about them on the news, he hopes they are staying in good health, he mentioned he used to be a mailman. 

Mr. Libretta grew up in Brooklyn wondering what it would be like in the year 2000. When he was a kid he hoped he would grow up and make $100 a week, he thought he would be on easy street. He still loves the music that reminds him of those times and as teenagers going to the dances and getting a girls phone number.

He has children he is very proud of and often thinks "I must have done something very good in my life to have such wonderful children." He misses spending time with his grandchildren and hopes they’ll be able to visit when it is safe.  Due to vision problems it is harder for him to read, play solitaire and watch TV. We had a lovely conversation, he said "I want to keep you on the phone, it's nice to have someone to talk to."

MOWNR Volunteer and Board Member Maureen Pallotta

Michael Libretta (L) on his 80th Birthday with his younger brother Joe (R) 78 who lives in Queens.