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Sierra Kondos

Special to the Orange Leader

ORANGE — The Orange County Action Association Meals on Wheels has hired a new executive director to uplift the organization by improving financial health, optimizing volunteer utilization, and re-engaging seniors in activities.

Kristen Ross, previously a program manager at the Houston Health Department under the Bureau of Youth and Adolescent Health, transitioned to Meals on Wheels Sept. 10.

Meals on Wheels is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at 103 N. 5th St. in

Orange.

“I served as a program manager for one of our grants, our federally funded grants, and then I also serve in other capacities,” Ross said. “I served as our garden director, our interim garden director, and as a public health educator, which all fall under the Department of Chronic Disease. And I did that for 10 years.”

Ross aims to bring structure into the organization.

“I want to help get everyone back online, back on track, kind of realign our value and come back full circle to what we really are known for,” she said. “And that is serving our senior citizens, providing meals and combatting social isolation. The face-to-face interactions that they receive at our congregate sites or even with our drivers that can be who they see all day and that can be impactful.”

Ross says she aims to increase hot meal deliveries within six months.

“We want to refocus on getting hot meals back to the seniors right now,” she said.

“They’re doing frozen meals one time a week, currently, they’re getting one box of frozen meals, which is five meals. So, it’s one meal per day because of rising food costs and gas. We are hoping to offer at least one hot meal a week within the next six months.”

Volunteers and staff go along six routes and deliver those meals once a week on a particular route.

“The goal is to become fully operational,” Ross said. “We would have drivers going out every day, delivering hot meals to different routes, which means we would need more volunteers, more cars, more manpower, along with galvanizing community support. So, donations, grants, and more funding federal and local grants for sure.”

Ross moved her family from Houston to Orange to be closer to her family in Orange.

“So, this kind of happened pretty smoothly,” she said. “I have two small kids and my husband, and so, we were looking to come back closer to our family. My parents had left with some land out here, which made the transition from Houston to Orange easier. I had just kind of started looking in avenues and in different places, and this job opportunity popped up, and I thought, ‘I think I can do this.’”

Ross also has family members who utilize the program.

“So, it has a very special place in my heart,” she said. “Not only from a personal standpoint, but also from a community needs standpoint. I understand the value. I understand it’s worth.”

She plans to network with local artists to offer diverse activities.

“I hear a lot about bingo,” she said. “We also have crafts and painting rooms. I would love to exchange ideas with local artists who would love to give back to their community in their own special way.”

For more information visit www.mealsonwheelsorangetx.com.

To volunteer, make a donation or for more information, call 409-886- 2186 or email ocaadirector@outlook.com