The Colquitt Regional Medical Center Volunteers present a check to the Meals on Wheels program.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Colquitt Regional Medical Center Volunteers’ chief purpose is to serve Colquitt Regional, its patients and visitors, and to supplement its personnel whenever needed. However, these volunteers often go above and beyond their typical duties, and they are not always limited to the hospital. This year, the Colquitt Regional Volunteers took on a community outreach project that funded a $2,500 donation to Meals on Wheels at the Moultrie Senior Center.

Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals, according to a press release from the hospital.

“Since many of the recipients of these meals are the elderly, Meals on Wheels can literally make the difference between life or death in some instances,” the hospital said. “Without the support of programs such as these, seniors are forced to prematurely exchange their independence at home for nursing facilities, which may reduce their quality of life.”

In addition to receiving a nutritious meal, seniors also enjoy a friendly visit and safety check by the individuals who deliver the meals.

The volunteers’ donation will serve 454 meals to homebound seniors of Colquitt County.    

Betty Shiflett, president of the Colquitt Regional Volunteer Services, spearheaded this initiative.

“We feel fortunate to be able to donate our time to give back to the hospital and our community,” Shiflett said. “That’s why this project was especially sentimental to us. We strive to support our senior neighbors who may lack mobility but are equally deserving of independence, health, and dignity.”