Hatteras Island Meals is rolling again

It was a hot and humid July morning, and Windsor Jacques was at Diamond Shoals Restaurant, loading 15 hot lunches into the cab of his truck. 

Jacques is the vice president of Hatteras Island Meals, a local Meals-on-Wheels-style organization that delivers food to islanders who are elderly, ill, or just need a helping hand.

Earlier this year, financial difficulties forced Hatteras Island Meals to put the brakes on its operations.  After suspending its services for about three months, the organization has set its wheels in motion again and resumed regular meals delivery on May 13.

Those receiving meals before the temporary suspension were relieved to see the service restored.

One of them is Douglas “Chubby” Dorris, a retired tugboat captain who lives on Sunset Strip in Frisco.

“When it folded up that time, that was really a downfall,” reflected Dorris.  “I’m very happy, I really am.  It’s a good service, it’s been a big help to me.”

Jacques gave Dorris the meal that the folks at Diamond Shoals had prepared that day—a ham and cheese sandwich, green beans, apple sauce, chips, and donuts—and stayed for a while to chat. Then, he was off.

While the suspension of services was difficult for many in the community—and upsetting to the restaurants and volunteers who understand its value—it provided the organization a much-needed opportunity to rebuild and restructure.

Led by a new president, Natalie McIntosh, the board of directors adopted several measures to prevent future financial issues and ensure the continuation of service.

The group began working closely with the Dare County Social Services to evaluate potential new clients.  People interested in receiving a meal must first be approved by social services.  If recommended by social services, a meal may also be provided to the client’s caregiver.

“There are subjective criteria that are evaluated to prevent us from overreaching our [financial] capabilities,” explained McIntosh.

The board also imposed limitations on the number of meals delivered each week.  For the current financial situation, Hatteras Island Meals may deliver to a maximum of 40 clients, three days a week.

As of right now, the group serves 33 islanders, three days a week.  A handful of volunteers are responsible for delivering the meals along routes from Rodanthe to Hatteras village.

To cut back on travel time for the volunteers, Hatteras Island villages have been clustered into four groups.  Volunteers typically deliver to an area nearby their homes.  And the restaurants that prepare the meals are established within the area they serve.  Island Convenience serves Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo; Avon is covered by Subway; Diamond Shoals supplies Frisco and Buxton; and Sonny’s provides for Hatteras village.

“We provide social interplay also,” said Jacques.  “It is not our primary purpose, but we do and people recognize us and expect us to be there.  We say hello to them and I guess that’s pretty important.”

But it seems that meal delivery and conversation are not the only items on the menu.  Jacques recalled ordering a special light bulb and calling an electrician for one client in the past.  He and a couple of other volunteers also cleaned up an overgrown cemetery near a client’s home in Buxton.

Those who volunteer for this organization are not merely donating their time.  They are personally invested in the program and it shows.

The clients greatly appreciate the service that Hatteras Island Meals provides, but in the future, Natalie McIntosh hopes to increase service to five days a week.

“Outreach, consistent funding, or another big event will make the difference between three and five days,” she said.

While McIntosh hopes to expand their services in the future, right now the group is focusing on maintaining meal delivery for its current 33 clients.  Funding remains a constant threat to sustaining the service.

In July, the organization received news that Dare County granted it an annual $10,000 allotment.  In the same month, however, its largest source of funding, private donations, began to taper off. 

McIntosh hopes to achieve financial security by broadening awareness throughout the community.  This includes planning the next big fundraiser and increasing the organization’s visibility to those visiting the area.

And it really is a valuable service.

“They’re doing a fantastic job,” said Leonard Nuchols of Buxton.  “I don’t know what we’d do without them.”

People interested in volunteering their time with Hatteras Island Meals can contact Natalie McIntosh via email, nataliemcintosh@yahoo.com, or through Facebook.

To make a donation, mail a check payable to Hatteras Island Meals, Inc. to P.O. Box 854, Buxton, NC 27920 or access the Pay Pal account listed on Facebook.