April 18, 2018 - Issue: Vol. 164, No. 63 — Daily Edition115th Congress (2017 - 2018) - 2nd Session

[Pages S2259-S2260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING VERMONT MEALS ON WHEELS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize the extraordinary work of Vermont's Meals on Wheels programs. 
All across the State, hundreds of volunteers regularly deliver freshly 
cooked nutritious meals to thousands of seniors in their homes, many of 
whom otherwise might not have

[[Page S2260]]

enough to eat. These volunteers play a critically important role 
helping ensure that older Vermonters have access to adequate nutrition. 
That, in and of itself, is no small matter.
  These volunteers do much more than just deliver a meal. They also 
provide invaluable social interaction and companionship for the seniors 
they visit, which goes a long way to combat the effects of isolation 
that many older Vermonters face, especially in rural areas. Without 
this social interaction, seniors are more likely to have feelings of 
loneliness and depression, which puts them at higher risk for dementia, 
chronic disease, falls, and hospitalization.
  The regular visits serve another purpose as well. The volunteers 
routinely check to make sure that the seniors are safe, secure, and 
warm. They know each person they visit and recognize immediately if 
something doesn't seem right. It is no exaggeration to say that they 
have saved Vermonters' lives by checking when no one answers the door, 
taking the time to discover that someone had fallen and been injured.
  Every single Meals on Wheels volunteer has my sincere appreciation 
for their remarkable work.
  I would also like to recognize the caring and dedicated professionals 
that run Vermont's Meals on Wheel these programs, from the chefs who 
prepare the nutritious meals that the volunteers deliver, to the 
program staff who ensure that everything runs smoothly. Together, these 
agencies served more than 1 million meals in Vermont last year alone. 
They form an indispensable component of our social safety net for older 
Vermonters.
  Last month was ``March for Meals,'' when Meals on Wheels programs 
across the country expand their outreach to draw attention to the 
growing need for the services these agencies provide. I am enormously 
pleased that many of my Vermont staff rode along with Meals on Wheels 
volunteers across the State to see the wonderful work they are 
doing.

                          ____________________