East Washingtonian - Your Hometown News Source

For the past fifteen-plus years, Roger Dumbeck has volunteered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to deliver meals to the homebound and shut-ins in Pomeroy and parts of Garfield County. He says he has missed some days, but the girls at the Senior Center and the clients he brings meals to say he has missed very few times bringing meals to the folks on his list. He arrives at the Center on delivery days and checks his list to make sure the number of cold and warm meals of food coordinate with the number of deliveries on his list. He helps seal the meals, packs his pickup and begins the eight-mile route in his personal vehicle. Roger also keeps a vigilant eye on the particular diet needs of the clients and insures they get what they need and don't get what they shouldn't have for health reasons.

The coronavirus has increased the number of deliveries, but Chef Patsi and Manager Stephanie also deliver meals. He has delivered as far out as the Fairgrounds and Pataha. Some people pick up meals for shut-ins and deliver them to places as far away as Starbuck and the Tucannon.

Kenny Ramm was delivering meals when Roger started and continued to do so until just about six months ago when vision problems ended his sixteen-year "career"! Over the years Roger has been helped by Leon Gormsen, Max Ruchert, Gene Smith, Allen Starin, and Chad Weimer, to name a few. At times Roger has had young people ride with him as assistants to fulfill community service hours. A sorority from WSU has also had member fulfilling volunteer hours as they ride with him when he serves clients.

Roger says part of his job is to check on his clients. Some days he is the only person some of his clients see and he has worked long enough with most clients that he can tell when something is amiss. Luckily he said he has only had to call the ambulance once or twice. He has been known to shovel sidewalks in the winter, bring newspapers to the door and provide help if needed.

The best part of his job is the appreciation of the clients he serves. "They are a great group of people; they never complain and they are happy to see you"! He also mentioned working with great people such as Patsi and Stephanie. One not-so-pleasant memory that has stuck with him over the years was skidding backwards down an icy, snowy hill.

When asked what inspired Roger to begin this fifteen year volunteer position, he said, "I know I am going to get old myself and will someday need these services, so I want to keep things going." He laughingly added, "That sounds pretty self-serving! In my own little way I do not look upon myself as a hero; I am just here to do what I can do to help in times of need."

The current coronavirus has not greatly affected his clients, as most of them tend to remain in their homes most of the time anyway. He has developed great friendships over the years. He noted delivering a meal to a man who died later that day. He fondly remembers on that very morning the man telling him "he was a really good man."

During the present pandemic the food bank, the school and the Senior Center share and reciprocate when an unexpected abundance of certain food is given to one entity or another. Roger gives Patsi and Stephanie great credit for the job they do in providing the community with such nutritious and almost-home-cooked meals.

Garfield County Meals on Wheels probably serves a higher percentage of the county's population than any other Meals on Wheels organization in the state, if not the Nation. To get your name on a delivery list call in before 9 a.m. Those over age 60 receive meals on a donation basis. Call and Roger will show up with a smile, probably a joke and a good meal.