An uncommon gift — and a big boost for the local Meals on Wheels

Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels is no stranger to donations.

It’s part of the nonprofit Senior Life Resources Northwest, and it relies on help from the community to do its work.

But last week, the program got a type of gift it’s never received before, at least not in recent memory: commercial real estate.

A local couple, who wish to remain anonymous, turned over the keys to a commercial building.

The nonprofit intends to sell the property, with the proceeds going into a fund for kitchen equipment and replacement.

The donation is “something you dream about and very rarely see,” said Grant Baynes, executive director of Senior Life Resources Northwest.

“The donors were actually shocked that this was the first gift of property (to us) that anyone could remember. It’s a great way to support a charity. The value to (the donors) is that they can see their money at work,” Baynes told the Herald.

The property is in the Tri-Cities, although the donors didn’t want anymore details revealed.

Baynes said they’re former Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels volunteers. While delivering meals, they saw the program’s effect up close.

Once, they knocked on a door and got no answer, then heard a faint voice calling for help.

“They entered the home and found the senior on the floor disoriented and unable to get up,” a news release said. They called 911.

At a different home, their knocks also went unanswered. Sadly, that client had died.

“We have not been able to forget that day,” they said in the news release. “Now that we are getting older, we realize how important it is to us to stay independent and in our own home. We don’t qualify for Meals on Wheels, but we hope that we can help those that do and we hope others will join us in supporting this valuable service.”

Baynes said the donation comes at a good time.

A new Meals on Wheels kitchen opened last year, and it’ll be important to have money down the road for equipment maintenance and replacement.

Like many nonprofits, Senior Life Resources is dealing with growing demand and limited resources.

Last year, the local Meals on Wheels served 173,000 meals. This year, it’s on track to exceed 180,000.

The program serves senior and homebound clients.

Baynes said the donors of the commercial building were pleased to be able to gift the property.

“To watch the joy and the pleasure that they felt doing this was the icing on the cake for us,” Baynes said.

The gift was “really, really special,” he said.

To learn more about Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, donate or volunteer, call 509-735-1911 or go to seniorliferesources.org.

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 6:53 PM with the headline "An uncommon gift — and a big boost for the local Meals on Wheels."