Wednesday, November 11, 2009. I left wanting to cry. Sounds like a pretty crazy ending for a first day of doing volunteer work that is supposed to make someones day a little better. I mean, I am volunteering because I have the time, I want to help someone who needs help, but I want to also be uplifted by the experience, not feel depressed, sad and bummed out.
I was working with this guy named George. He was the driver and I was the "visitor," which means that I am the person who brings the meals to the recipient. George is a nice guy, he knows that it my first day. So, I am all bright eyed and bushytailed about finally doing MOW (Meals on Wheels). I have actually wanted to do this for a while, not quite sure why, just knew that when I had time, I would like to volunteer. I can't remember the exact person who we went to first, but we did have several apartment buildings to deliver to. The first apartment building has 2 people expecting meals. So, this old, sad looking vestibule has a keypad to call the resident and get buzzed into the building. Well, I can't get the buzzer to work. I tried the directions on my MOW sheet. I tried the directions on the buzzer itself...can't get it. I wave George in, we both can't get it to work. Finally, someone comes out, someone is waiting at the inside of the door, and I am able to enter. I deliver my first meal, no problem. Then, I have to go to the 3rd floor for the second meal. I knock on the door, no answer. There is a note on the door that says "meals on wheels, knock hard or just come in." OK, so I open the door, the apartment is dark, bathroom, bedroom dark. I think no one is home. On this womans instructions, it says if you can't get her, go down the hall to Irene's apartment. Well, I go down the hall to Irenes apartment. She is there and I introduce myself. She says that her friend should be home, so we walk back to the recipients apartment. She knocks hard, no answer. Then she goes in and finds the woman reading her newspaper by the window. She is fine (although my biggest fear is finding someone dead). She is as deaf as a doorknob. OK, meal delivered...thanks Irene!
Next apartment building, George decides to go in with me. 3 deliveries and he wants to hit the potty. Perfect, he'll help me out. The first guy is young, mentally challenged and doesn't speak clearly. He has alot to say, but I have no way to understand what he is saying, although he did meet us at the door and then tapped on his watch, so I figure he is complaining that we are late. Whatever. Nice enough guy, sad life, meal delivered, done. Next, we go to another apartment where no one is home and the door is locked. The sheet says "on Weds, if no one home, but meal in fridge and lock door." But, problem is, the door is locked, so we need to get the building supervisor to let us in. The apartment is disgusting. I have the task of placing his food in his fridge. I look at this fridge and I don't want to go near it. I can't imagine what is in there. I open the fridge, trying to use my pinky. It's not that bad, put the meals in quickly and exit. Take one quick glance in bathroom and yuck...gross. I want out. We go to the last person in that building. We have to bang real loud...she is always sleeping. She comes to door, says I look like someone who used to work for her. Not me. Meal delivered. Done. Next bldg, we have to go to a communal room with group fridge. Fridge is gross. Yucky dirty crock pot with stuff dripping down sides. Place meal in and done.
OK, so now, I am getting completely bummed. I don't want to get old and live like this...what's the point? I can tell that the tears are working their way out of my eyes soon.
We go to do the next delivery. It is a house, not an apartment bldg. I go up, ring the bell and knock on the door at the same time. I notice a big picture window and I walk over and peek in. The woman is walking toward the door, sees me looking in and yells at me that she is coming. OK, I'm just happy that she is answering the door, not dead and that I don't have to smell and yucky apartment hallways. Well, she opens the door and proceeds to bitch me out. She says that not all old people are waiting by the door for deliveries and that I should have more patience. She keeps bitching and I'm thinking to myself, "are you kidding me?" She get her meal, I walk off the porch and just want to ball. This old cranky woman made me feel like I can't do anything right. OK, maybe I need a bit of a thicker skin and some people just like to complain about everything.
Last 2 deliveries are fairly easy and the last woman is actually really nice. I'm done for the day. I feel so gross and dirty. I want to go home, shower and fumigate my clothes. I want to cry.
That's it...my first day at Meals on Wheels.
I'll give it a try for November and December and then reevaluate. Maybe I need to do volunteer work that doesn't involve going into their homes. Not sure this is the right fit for me. I would like to do something that I feel good about afterwards.
