NORTHAMPTON — The smell of meatloaf emanated from the kitchen of the Northampton Elks Lodge Wednesday afternoon as 10 volunteers banded together to prepare 100 warm, home-cooked dinners for veterans.
Earlier in the week, cookies were baked, potatoes were peeled and other preparations were made so the meals could be warmed up and packaged for dinnertime on Veterans Day.
“Look at these people working hard today,” said Ted Timmons, president of the lodge, who said the effort takes 40 hours of volunteer time. “They could be doing anything else with their free time.”
Inside the kitchen, the volunteers formed a human conveyor belt to package meals for 96 veterans who live at the VA Medical Center in Leeds. Chris Powers pulled green beans from the oven, and another volunteer spooned them into an aluminum foil pan. Anita Waite drizzled gravy over mashed potatoes. Rolls, butter and a cookie went in next. At the last stop, volunteers sealed the containers and packed them into boxes.
Energy was positive as volunteers exchanged jokes, laughed, gently chided each other for any mistakes made and took selfies together.
Linda Zeitler, who is well into her 80s, is the kitchen’s queen, and nothing happens there without her OK. For her, the work honors her siblings who served in the Vietnam War and provides consolation for the veterans at the VA who rarely have visitors.
She said the veterans usually send a letter of thanks for the meals, but that’s not the end goal. The purpose is to provide them with a fresh meal that’s not from a box.
“They appreciate whatever they can get,” said Zeitler.
“It’s just a very small gesture to give back to them, give them the day to sit back and eat and relax,” Powers said.
For Waite, the meals are a way to thank those who have served.
Jim Butcher of the lodge said he and Zeitler experienced sticker shock from prices after going to Restaurant Depot in the days leading up to the event. Three years ago, putting the meals together cost about $300. This year, his receipt totaled $591.
This is the eighth year the lodge has delivered meals. Before then, veterans would come by bus to the lodge, have a casino night and receive rolls of dimes to gamble with. Ultimately, Butcher said delivering the meals is more inclusive.
“Everybody gets a meal, whereas the other way it was only the ones that would travel down,” he said.
