MINOT, ND (KXNET) — Feeding the community is what the Minot Meals on Wheels Program, which is run through the Minot Commission on Aging, has been doing for more than 50 years. The program helps provide senior citizens with hot meals, which are delivered right to their homes, who otherwise wouldn't have the mobility to do so. Meals on Wheels is made possible by four drivers and around seven kitchen staff members, who make it all possible year-round. But with holidays fast approaching and winter conditions hitting hard, they're planning ahead. Meals on Wheels will be delivering hot meals to seniors for Thanksgiving week Monday through Wednesday, but will also be supplying seniors with frozen meals Thursday through Sunday, for when drivers are not available, however, drivers will be delivering close to 600 meals this week which might seem like a tall order but Meals on Wheels delivers close to 125,000-130,000 meals in a given year. Executive Director of Minot Aging Commission, Rodger Reich, says preparing extra frozen meals to be delivered throughout the week before Thanksgiving is how he plans on staying ahead of the poor weather conditions while meeting the high holiday demands. "It's kind of been a weird winter because it was really warm then we just got hit, so we ask our seniors to be prepared for the winter, so that's that frozen meal part of our program — have some extra meals on hand we have frozen here we can get them out to them so they can have some meals in their house in case it's so bad we are not able to get out," said Reich. Despite poor weather conditions and icy roads, Reich says that Meals on Wheels volunteers are more than willing to take on the more than 15 delivery routes that drivers do to provide seniors with their meals. Animal safety is a priority in winter for Minot zoo "Minot is a very unique community, our volunteers are very dedicated people, they're always coming out there, always helping us out no matter the weather, no matter what's going on, they're coming in taking meal routes," said Reich. However, Reich says being able to provide seniors with a hot meal goes beyond just the food itself. "The neat thing about delivering meals is that it's not only just a meal, but it's that wellness check for that senior. So it's that face-to-face, lots of time that smile from the volunteer to the senior, they build that relationship, they know each other, and the volunteer kind of says so and so didn't look real good today, maybe we need to check on it well, we're able to call their emergency contact and say dad didn't look real good today maybe somebody should check on him," said Reich. While Meals on Wheels produced 450 meals alone on Thursday, as well as more meals that are being saved for later, the Minot Commission on Aging also offers breakfast for seniors at their Cafe 60. Wayne Brefting says the cafe is a great place for him to socialize and hopes it will continue to grow. "I'm just happy Minot's got a place like this because I lost my wife two years ago and it's just a nice place to come and visit in the mornings and that's great," said Reich. Meals on Wheels is in the process of getting everything ready for the increase in meals during Thanksgiving week. And says they can't do it without their volunteers. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW