It isn’t enough for Linda Mealing to live in her community. As a resident of Ypsilanti, she works to make it a better place for everyone nearly every day.
Linda is a member of First Baptist Church, the former president of the New West Willow Neighborhood Association, and has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for several years. And every Wednesday, Linda delivers meals to clients of Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.
“Helping people is just part of who I am,” said Linda, who learned from the example set by her mother.
“Some of the residents are really talkative,” Linda said of the people on her delivery route. Others, she said, prefer to remain quiet. Either way, Linda knows she’s making a difference just by knocking on each person’s door.
“I might be the only one that day who asks them how they’re doing,” she said.
Just as Linda’s mother showed her the importance of giving back to her community, Linda is passing that lesson on to her great granddaughter, who has accompanied her on meal delivery.
Linda said she plans to continue working in the community for as long as possible, and she also hopes to expand her role at YMOW by learning more about the organization and by pitching in beyond meal delivery.
“I want to help out everywhere I can,” she said.
YMOW Volunteer Manager Chris Brown said Linda deserves to be recognized not only for her work at YMOW, but throughout Ypsilanti.
“If I could give her an award for volunteering across Ypsilanti, I would. Linda is so flexible and generous with her time, making herself available for whatever we need here at YMOW, while also volunteering for her church and other organizations,” Chris said.
Congratulations, Linda, on being named YMOW’s Volunteer of the Quarter, and thanks for being an important part of the YMOW team!
