The closing of the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville will affect more than its services as it moves to other locations within the University of Virginia Medical Center. It's a decision that will also affect the Meals on Wheels program.
For nearly 10 years, Meals on Wheels of Charlottesville-Albemarle County has used the rehabilitation center's cafeteria for free. Now the nonprofit is looking for a new office space and location to pack up its meals.
Dawn Grzegorczyk is the executive director of Meals on Wheels of Charlottesville-Albemarle County. She says they need very little office space, but require more than 1,000 square feet to prepare meals for delivery. According to Grzegorczyk, UVA has not given Meals on Wheels a specific deadline to leave, but the organization's future is still uncertain.
"The University of Virginia hasn't said that they won't be able to continue to support us, but they have told us that there are no guarantees. They're short on space as well," Grzegorczyk said.
Meals on Wheels relies on 34 volunteers each day to reach those in need. It delivers 250 hot meals a day, five days a week to people in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The need has increased every year for the past nine years, and right now, they need more volunteers with college students heading back to school.
