Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley has announced that its Gwen’s Meals program is now serving meals in the Alderson area.
The center has been serving meals in the Greenbrier Valley and the Meadow River Valley since 2003 carrying out the wishes of Gwen Clingman who provided meals to those in the community who were sick or homebound and needed a good meal. This week on Monday, meals were prepared and delivered in the Alderson area. The organization had tried to get this started in Alderson previously, but it never panned out. It is a big commitment and as all nonprofits know, finding volunteers is an ongoing issue.
In January 2021, Brian DeRouen, co-director of the Alderson Hospitality House, joined the Shepherd’s Center’s board of trustees. DeRouen and his wife, Kathleen, and their two sons, Micah and Vitali, host families who come to visit family members who are incarcerated at the prison camp in Alderson.
This gives the family members a place to stay free of charge and meals are provided for them during their visits. It is a rewarding ministry to the DeRouen family; they all get involved.
Things are a bit slower for the DeRouens due to the COVID lockdown at the prison camp. They learned about the Gwen’s Meals program when DeRouen joined our Shepherd’s Center board in January. DeRouen soon called interested in starting Gwen’s Meals in Alderson. He and Kathleen are accustomed to preparing larger quantities of meals for guests coming to the hospitality house and were willing to prepare and deliver themselves.
Initially, we decided on 20 recipients once a week to receive meals — start smaller and expand as needed. DeRouen has contacted local churches to find recipients for the meals and possible volunteers. Early in the pandemic, DeRouen had delivered meals for the “Feeding Seniors” program and knew several from those initial contacts who would be possible candidates for Gwen’s meals. The board decided April as our start date and on April 5, the first meals were prepared in the kitchen of the hospitality house and meals were delivered by Brian and Kathleen with help from their son, Vitale (Tali). Success, recipients were happy to receive a good meal and it was rewarding to those delivering.
If you would like to volunteer to help them in preparing meals from time to time, let them know or contact Shepherd’s Center. If you are not interested in preparing meals, perhaps you could help in delivering meals. As the saying goes, “It takes a village…”
The center relies on its volunteers to help in all services and programs. The center asks everyone to consider sharing their time and talents to bring joy and a good meal to the older adults in and around the Alderson area.
The center’s programs are dependent on donations and grants and it is so thankful for those in the community who so generously donate to Shepherd’s Center each year. Anyone can donate online via our webpage or send your gift to PO Box 54, Lewisburg, WV, 24901.
If you know of someone who would like to volunteer or would like to receive a meal, let the center know. Contact Brian Derouen at 304-445-5231 or the Shepherd’s Center office at 304-645-4196.
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