Ella & Ernie are Serving Up Kindness with Meals on Wheels

Meet Ella and Ernie, volunteers for Meals on Wheels in Pasco County. Ella Cochrane, 89, has volunteered for Meals on Wheels since 1997 and still delivers meals to people in need two days a week. Ernie Smith has volunteered for the past four years.

Ella and Ernie feel a sense of pride knowing they are feeding people in need within their community. They both passionately show off the facility and discuss how much impact Meals on Wheels has. 

"A lot of these people lost their spouse, and they have no one to come see them. Our volunteers are the only people they see all day long. We not only bring them their food, but we let them know someone cares about them. We chat with them and help them any way we can," Ella said.

Ernie helps organize and deliver meals five days a week and cooks meals for people on the weekends. "It makes me feel wonderful on the inside. I delivered to a woman who asked me to look at her foot, and when she showed it to me, her foot was black. I told her she needed to call the hospital, and when she arrived at the hospital, she had gangrene and lost her leg, but the doctor said if she didn't get to the hospital within 24 hours, she would have died. Helping people like that is what this is all about," Ernie shared.

Ella feels that volunteering is a worthwhile opportunity to do something special. "It makes me feel good knowing I am helping others. These people become our extended family, and it warms my heart knowing I am helping them." Ella and Ernie show that age isn't a factor in giving back. All that matters is a heart to help others.

Do you know someone who is making a difference in our community? Nominate them to be featured in our #BeMoreKind series to help spread kindness across our community!