Meals on Wheels Offers Food, Companionship In 1939, after a bombing in London, thousands of British residents were left homeless and destitute. A group of volunteer women prepared and delivered meals to those in need, forming the Women's Royal Volunteer Service and Meals on Wheels. The program arrived in the States in 1954, and to the Baltimore area in 1960, when Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland was established. The group was formally incorporated in 1967 and now serves Baltimore county and city and Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland is one of more than 115 service agencies that will benefit from Hopkins' United Way contributions. Agency executive director Robert Schapp said 89 percent of the group's more than 1,700 clients are elderly. Some use the services temporarily while recovering from an illness; others receive permanent aid. In addition to going directly to the homebound, the agency delivers meals to some child and adult day-care facilities in the area. A staff of more than 100 prepares the meals at the organization's Haven Street facility in Baltimore. More than 3,000 volunteers help to deliver a warm lunch and a cold supper to each client, Schapp said. "Clients range from those who pay nothing because they cannot afford it to those who pay almost full cost of the meal," Schapp said. "It's not based on income eligibility." "Grace" is among those clients. At 89, widowed and childless, she found it difficult to get to the store, shop for food and prepare meals. She ate less and less, and when she finally saw a doctor about her declining health, she was diagnosed with malnutrition. Now Grace receives her meals regularly, her health has improved and she is less confused. For more information or to volunteer for Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, call 558-0827. For volunteer opportunities at Hopkins, call 516-6060. ----------------------------------------------------------------- University staff and faculty have reached 74.1 percent of their goal, pledging $411,911. The hospital has raised $127,000; APL has raised $226,000, about 64 percent of their goal. -----------------------------------------------------------------