Rochester Volunteers Deliver Meals Despite $4.57 Gas

When gas hit $4.57 a gallon in Rochester this week, Dave Wideman didn't even consider cutting back his volunteer route.

The Meals on Wheels volunteer has been delivering meals every Monday for months. He recently added a second day because the need is so great.

"I don't like the high gas prices," Wideman admits. "But I just drive where I need to drive and pay the money."

For him, the cost fades when he thinks about people like Nancy Abate. She lives on the top floor of her building, and while her son helps with weekly shopping, Meals on Wheels fills the gaps. She raves about volunteers who climb those stairs without complaint.

The program runs 90 routes every single day across Monroe County. Around 200 volunteers keep it going, with 85 drivers hitting the road and others in kitchens preparing and packing meals. Every person they serve depends on this food and the daily check-in.

Wideman says the relationships make every gallon worth it. Over the holidays, one woman he delivers to gave him homemade cookies. "She really appreciates the delivery," he says. "I think they all appreciate it."

Sunny's Take

What makes this story beautiful isn't just the dedication. It's the quiet math happening in Wideman's head when he fills his tank. Gas versus groceries for someone who can't leave home. The choice isn't really a choice at all.

The cookies weren't fancy. Just a tin of homemade treats left with genuine gratitude. But they represent something bigger: human connection in an age when it's easier than ever to stay isolated.

These volunteers are fighting two kinds of hunger at once. The physical kind that a hot meal solves, and the social kind that comes from living alone on the top floor with nobody checking in.

The program needs more people like Wideman. Rochester, Brighton, and Irondequoit have the biggest gaps. The commitment is simple: show up, deliver meals, climb some stairs, maybe receive some cookies.

Anyone interested can call Meals on Wheels volunteer services at 585-787-8326 and become part of the solution.