Reisterstown Resident Recognized For Outstanding Service To Baltimore Community

Meals on Wheels volunteer Kathi Howard from Reisterstown is being honored for 32 years of service delivering meals to those in need. To thank her for her service to the Owings Mills/ Reisterstown community, Jiffy Lube is awarding Howard one year of free vehicle service.

Howard and her sister Pam Cline have spent the last three decades serving meals to the elderly and other home-bound residents. According to Howard, she brings food and company to those who need it most.

“Helping others is important to me and my sister,” she said. “We are providing assistance to underserved and marginalized members of society who need healthy meals and often some friendly conversation.”

According to Feeding America, a network of food banks across the United States, 543,650 people are facing hunger in Maryland, and 167,020 are children.

Meals on Wheels is a massive network of over 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs. These meal deliveries would not happen without the faithful dedication of community members like Howard.

Howard regularly takes her son and grandson on her delivery routes, so she can share the importance of giving back to the community. For many residents served by meals on wheels, the deliveries are about more than food security. According to the CDC, Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia in seniors.

Howard always makes sure she spends the time to converse with her delivery recipients.

“We are often the only faces our clients will see during the day. I love how Meals on Wheels brings people together. I definitely receive much more than I give.”

Meals on wheels has produced, packed, and delivered 4,841,485 meals to those in need since 2020. Of the nearly 3,000 adults the organization serves annually, 75 percent live at or below the poverty line.

On top of awarding Howard one year of free vehicle service, The Jiffy Lube Baltimore CO-OP will be offering discounts to all Meals on Wheels volunteers. Jiffy Lube Baltimore CO-OP president, Pete Blauvelt, is excited about the partnership.

“We are excited to recognize and honor Kathi for her tremendous dedication and commitment to serve others,” He said. “itis our pleasure to help maintain her vehicle so that she can focus on her passion for serving others.”

As a part of Jiffy Lube’s partnership with Meals on Wheels, the vehicle service company will be conducting a fundraiser for food banks across Central Maryland through October. 

Photo Credit: Joanne Cobb