The Ellis County Press: Midlothian couple enjoy weekly route for Meals-on-Wheels

Midlothian couple enjoy weekly route for Meals-on-Wheels
================================================================================
Editor on 01/19/2012 11:32:00


Submitted article
They’re world travelers – cultured, accomplished and sophisticated.
His roots are deep seeded in the annuals of European history as a descendant of
the de’ Medici family. A dairy farm in Amsterdam provided a bucolic backdrop
during her childhood.
Yet they are appreciative of the small things in life, like the enthusiastic
greeting they receive from the Doberman they rescued or the scent of fresh-cut
grass on a balmy spring day.
Bill and Willi LaMedica’s intriguing life together would make James Bond’s
adventures pale in comparison. Today they call Midlothian home. A plea from
Meals-on-Wheels for volunteers in the Midlothian Mirror piqued their interest.
For more than a year, the couple has taken up a weekly route, sometimes
delivering two at a time when the need arises.
They say they’ve delivered all four of Midlothian’s routes and now know each
client served in their city.
“Mostly I’m doing this for my Mom,” Willi confessed.
“I told Bill that really I wanted to do this because I didn’t get a chance
to do it for my Mom.”
She explained that the first year she and Bill were living in the States, she
would make the trek back to Holland when her mother was in hospice.
Willi said the clients really appreciate the meals and when there are extras,
like the chicken dinners provided by Chicken Express or the Christmas gifts that
some of the clients received, they are often overwhelmed.
Willi recalled one client’s reaction when she and Bill presented him with a
gift over the holidays.
“He started crying,” she said. “it was very emotional. He really
appreciated it.”
Meals-on-Wheels is a community-based, non-profit organization serving the
homebound elderly and disabled residents throughout Johnson & Ellis County for
35 years. If you are interested in volunteering, or if you know of someone who
could benefit from Meals-on-Wheels services, call 972-351-9943, or online at
www.servingthechildrenofyesterday.org.