Our Drivers Stay Cool When Temperatures Rise

In these hot and hazy days of summer, when temperatures and humidity are high and physical comfort is low, CCLI’s Meals on Wheels programs in Nassau and Suffolk counties fortify homebound seniors with 4,000 nutritious weekly meals.

In addition to delivering fuel for the body, our drivers are faithful companions. They bring a smile, a good word and a listening ear as they carry their food deliveries to the kitchen. Some days the short visit may be the only face-to-face contact the seniors have.

The drivers do not take their responsibilities lightly as they complete their appointed daily deliveries. Izabela Sliwowska, program administrator of Meals on Wheels, said the drivers encourage the seniors to drink water and make sure an air conditioner is running in at least one room when they make their delivery. Drivers distribute printed material on current cooling sites provided by the Suffolk County Office of Aging.

“The drivers do come back to us if someone is not feeling right,” Sliwowska explained, noting that family members can be alerted, if necessary.

Because the drivers see their MOW senior clients regularly, they notice when something doesn’t seem right. Nicholas Scibetta has up to 25 seniors on his Suffolk County route, depending on the day. Last summer he observed that one of his clients was fatigued, instead of her normal vibrant self, and relayed the information to a case manager, so a wellness check could be set up.

Scibetta has served as a part-time driver for the past two years, after previously volunteering. He also heads a global communications and marketing company, which keeps him busy well into the evening.

His Meals on Wheels work for Catholic Charities of Long Island is too important to give up. It also runs in the family, as his wife Lori is a case manager for the Nassau Meals on Wheels program. His mother also worked for CCLI for 20 years, before moving to Catholic Health. “It’s in our blood,” he says of his family’s devotion.

Scibetta enjoys engaging with clients, mindful that he may be the only person they encounter that day. They share details about their lives, as they would to a friend, and he can help with simple tasks, like opening bottles, that may not be so easy for seniors.

His route includes stops in Wheatley Heights, Copiague, Farmingdale, North Amityville and West Babylon during his four-hour shift, which includes prep time loading the van.

“Our clients give us so much more than we give them,” Scibetta said. “The help brings smiles to their faces. Regardless of weather, they know we’re going to be there.”

Especially in the hot weather, let’s remember to pray for our seniors at home, and for the caring drivers of Catholic Charities of Long Island, who supply good food for the body and care for the entire person during their visits.