Gary Gross has big plans for his recent retirement. Along with remodeling his house, traveling to Europe and spending time with his wife and two teen-aged children, the 62-year-old is enjoying his time spent delivering meals for Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.
“I always planned this as part of my retirement,” said Gary, who joins client care associate Heidi every Wednesday to deliver meals to about 50 Ypsilanti residents. He greets each person with a smile, a friendly greeting and meals for the day. But what Gary gets in return far outweighs anything he can offer.
“The smiles and gratitude I receive are just priceless,” he said.
Volunteering also is his way of showing gratitude for a blessed life.
“I’ve been exceedingly fortunate in my life. I have an obligation to give back,” he said.
But Gary’s life also has included hard times. His role as a YMOW volunteer fulfills a promise he made to himself long ago, at a time when he felt very much alone in the world.
“The world is cruel when you have no one to turn to,” he said. Every Wednesday, he is that someone to turn to for the people on his route.
Like all YMOW volunteers, Gary delivers much more than a meal. He delivers a daily reminder that someone cares.
Want to be that someone for your homebound neighbors? Volunteers are needed every weekday, and especially on Saturdays!
Contact Volunteer Coordinator Rolanda Logan at rolanda@ymow.org, or CLICK HERE to learn more about becoming part of the YMOW team.