Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
The third annual Visiting Nurses Association of Texas’s Meals on Wheels Kids Camp brought meals to Oak Cliff neighbors this week while also teaching children about the importance of nutrition.
The Tuesday session started off with a group of about 20 children ages 8-11 prepping cards to give out as they delivered meals later that day. The music was accompanied by chatter with the excitement to head out for deliveries.
Once the doodling was done, the participants lined up into their two groups. Campers then headed over to the kitchen to split the hot and cold meals up, along with a breakfast bag available for higher need clients.
Campers loading up the meals before heading out for delivery. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
Each option was prepared by staff starting at 3 a.m. that morning, and items were prepared for clients that typically receive services. The campers are able to go out together in their groups to see the experience of delivering meals.
“So with these guys, we’re teaching volunteerism at a very young age and showing that these kids, even though they’re young, they have the opportunity to give back and take care of people who need (to be) taken care of,” said Robin Plotkin, VNA communications and events manager.
Once the meals were divided, it was on to the bus and heading south from the VNA building on Mockingbird Lane down to The Oaks at Hampton Retirement Center and Nolen Grand Apartments on Perryton Drive.
Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
There the chatter returned, echoing off the halls of the Nolen Grand Apartments. The summer heat was brutal, but campers did not seem to mind.
Truett Waits, 10, said delivering the meals has been his favorite part of camp. One of his favorite deliveries included bonding with a woman who happened to also have an October birthday like him.
“I learned that it’s good to help people out when they can’t get stuff that they need,” he said.
With each stop throughout the complex, campers greeted clients with a card and their assigned meal or meals. The interactions clearly brightened their days, helping out all involved.
One of the first deliveries of the day. Photo by Victoria Hernandez.
Cayson Tichenor, 11, participated in the camp for the first time this year.
“It’s fun seeing other people, and it’s fun seeing how thankful they are, and how much they care about us,” he said.
After delivering dozens of meals, the campers headed back to VNA for their own meals, reflecting on how they made an impact on the community and how they can continue to do so in the future.
“I learned that some people are struggling more than others, and you need to help people,” Cayson said. “It’s good to give back to the community, and some people live in harsh environments while you’re not struggling as much.”
