The North Oakland Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 334 and VFW Auxiliary donated 30 bags filled with Thanksgiving meals to Meals on Wheels Nov. 14.

Each bag contained nearly 27 pounds of holiday foods, such as canned ham and sweet potatoes, along with other snacks such as granola bars, soups, fresh fruit and canned vegetables.

During the holidays, VFW Post 334 Commander Jim Hubbard said senior citizens can have a particularly hard time affording the things they need.

“Not everybody has a steady income,” he said. “It’s hard when they don’t have that extra buck to pay for something.”

“We’re hoping (the Thanksgiving bags) will bring a few smiles,” Hubbard added.

Kathy Hubbard, president of VFW Auxiliary No. 334, said local veterans were happy to extend a lifeline to those in need.

“We hope the (recipients) realize that somebody cares about them . . . That’s the important part,” she said. “Veterans always get a ‘thank you’ for serving, but it’s nice for the veterans to also give back to our seniors and those that are in need.”

In order to be eligible for Meals on Wheels, a person must be age 60 or older and unable to grocery shop for themselves or cook their own meals.

With each delivery, people receive a lunch and, often, a dinner for later in the day. Many Meals on Wheels providers will provide frozen meals that can be eaten over the weekend.

Meals on Wheels recipients are asked to make a voluntary donation, although contributions are not required.

Every week, Monday through Friday, a truck from the Rochester-based Older Persons Commission (OPC) center delivers a bulk food shipment to the Oxford United Methodist Church on E. Burdick St.

From there, it’s up to the site hostesses, like Meals on Wheels volunteer Mary Reynolds, to package the food as individual meals and distribute them to the volunteer drivers who deliver them to seniors’ residences.

Currently, the site provides meals on a regular basis to 25 seniors throughout the township, according to Reynolds.

To sign up for Meals on Wheels, or to donate, call the OPC Senior Resource Department at (248) 608-0264.

To volunteer as a driver for the program, please call the Oxford site at (248) 236-9260.