When Joy Rowland, a volunteer with ELANCO Meals on Wheels, arrives at Trinity Lutheran Church, 221 E. Main St., New Holland, on Monday mornings between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m., usually the first thing she does is begin to unload the insulated box of meals that has been delivered from the Meals on Wheels Lancaster location on Manheim Pike.

Rowland divides the bags of lunches and dinner entrees according to the type of meal and the route where it is to be delivered to prepare for the drivers and runners who will arrive between 9 and 9:20 a.m.

According to Rowland, regular meals are available for a nominal fee per day with specials - which are prepared with a specific diet in mind - costing a little more. "(Meals are delivered) Monday through Fridays and holidays," said Rowland, who noted that the number of meals delivered varies. "We have New Holland, Leola, and Terre Hill routes, and the Terre Hill is a very long route," she noted. Generally, the Leola route has nine or 10 recipients, while New Holland has 14, and Terre Hill has about a dozen. Most recipients receive both lunch and dinner.

Lunches usually include a sandwich, such as ham and cheddar, tuna or egg salad, or another variety of meat. A dinner entree may include sesame chicken, peapods, and rice. "The menu varies a lot," noted Rowland, who added that soup, meatloaf, or a pasta dish, such as lasagna, may be among the dinner selections. "They have a fish that looks really good for the entree (sometimes)," said Rowland, who added that most recipients receive milk if they do not have a lactose issue.

Rowland, who coordinates the deliveries with her friend Judy McKinley, said that drivers are scheduled for certain days and routes. "We like one driver and a helper to run the meals to the door," she said, adding that students and others sometimes act as runners to fulfill community service requirements.

Volunteer drivers and runners are needed to deliver meals. Readers who are interested in volunteering may call 717-354-9150. Individuals in need of receiving meals may call 717-392-4842.