The Geauga County Department on Aging continued its annual tradition in 2024 by providing home-delivered holiday meals to senior citizens who were alone at their residences on Christmas Day. Related Articles Local News | Leadership Geauga announces Heritage Class for Retirees graduates Local News | Geauga Park District kicking off sixth year of its Geauga Gems Trekking Series Local News | Geauga Park District’s Winter Solstice Celebration held for 35th year Local News | Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers encouraging not gifting lottery tickets to youths Local News | Chardon girls basketball team spreads holiday cheer Department employees and other volunteers teamed up to assemble and pack 95 meals for seniors on the morning of Dec. 25 in the kitchen of the Chardon Senior Center. The food itself was prepared off-site by Ohman Family Living, which owns and operates senior living communities in Middlefield Village and Huntsburg and Newbury townships. Event organizers also received assistance from 55 volunteers who used their own vehicles to deliver these holiday meals throughout the county. “We have some of the most selfless, wonderful, giving people in our community,” said Jessica Boalt, who serves as director of the Geauga County Department on Aging. The department also operates a home-delivered meal program that regularly supplies warm, nutritious lunches Monday through Friday to homebound seniors in the county. For most holidays that fall on a weekday, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, clients of the home-delivered meal program will receive a frozen lunch that they can heat up in a microwave oven. “However, for Christmas and Thanksgiving, we do offer a hot holiday meal to any senior who is home and alone on the holiday,” Boalt said. The department sends a notice to established recipients of home-delivered meals at the beginning of December, asking them to confirm if they want a hot holiday meal on Christmas Day. But the department puts out additional information, emphasizing that the Christmas meal is available to all Geauga County seniors who are home and alone for the holiday. The event is publicized through local newspapers and in the department’s newsletter for seniors. This year, the Geauga County Department on Aging provided home-delivered Christmas meals that were requested by 95 seniors. Sandy McLeod prepares to use a machine that will apply sealed tops for trays containing hot holiday meals that were delivered on Christmas Day to homebound senior citizens in Geauga County. The meals were provided by the Geauga County Department on Aging. McLeod works as the department’s senior centers supervisor. This year, 95 Christmas meals were delivered to senior citizens by 55 volunteers. (Bill DeBus – The News-Herald) Each meal consisted of ham with pineapple; new potatoes (small, young potatoes that are harvested before they have a chance to mature); green beans; a slice of apple pie; a roll and butter; and a small carton of milk. All of the hot foods were cooked by Ohman Family Living, and then placed in heavy-duty aluminum food pans and transported to Chardon Senior Center’s kitchen. The pans then were placed in ovens to keep the food hot until meals could be put together. Geauga County Department on Aging employees and volunteers from outside the organization assembled the hot items for the meal in compartmentalized trays. One of the volunteers who assisted with filling the food trays was Dawn Damante, who serves as director of market relations for Ohman Family Living. “I really enjoy working on this project with the Geauga County Department on Aging and giving back to the seniors,” she said. “It’s a wonderful experience that gives me much joy.” After each tray was loaded with all meal items, a covering was applied with a food sealing machine. The trays then were grouped together on metal pans and went back in the ovens to stay hot until the volunteer delivery drivers arrived. After the drivers checked in, they received their delivery assignments and picked up the meals that they’d be taking to each senior citizen’s home. Heinz Limmer, left, and his wife, Debbie Limmer, load their truck with hot holiday meals that they delivered on Christmas Day to homebound senior citizens in Geauga County. The Limmers, who reside in Bainbridge Township, were among the 55 volunteers who helped to deliver meals provided by the Geauga County Department on Aging. Volunteers picked up the meals and received their delivery assignments at the Chardon Senior Center. The center’s kitchen also was used to assemble the meals. (Bill DeBus – The News-Herald) Debbie Limmer and her husband, Heinz Limmer, who live in Bainbridge Township, teamed up up to deliver Christmas meals. It was the couple’s second year of serving as volunteer deliverers. “We read about it in the Geauga senior newsletter that they needed volunteers, and we decided to do it because we don’t have much going on on Christmas Day,” Debbie said. “We celebrate on Christmas Eve with our family.” Heinz said he enjoys talking with the seniors when they answer the door to receive their Christmas meals. “They’re friendly when you come to deliver,” he said. “And I feel good doing it. I like helping people.” Boalt said the opportunity for senior citizens and drivers to socialize a little bit when the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals are delivered can be a rewarding experience. “I think that some of the greatest feedback we get from the recipients and volunteers are some of the highlights of the conversations that are had on these holidays,” she said. “We get to hear the stories the clients shared with the volunteers, and how impressed the volunteers were with the clients.”