Rod Blum delivers, praises Meals on Wheels

CEDAR RAPIDS - U.S. 1st District Rep. Rod Blum, whose mother benefited from home-delivered meals, was out delivering for Meals on Wheels in Cedar Rapids on Thursday.

Blum first visited Horizons, A Family Service Alliance, which among other services, provides 1,100 Meals on Wheels on a daily basis to Cedar Rapids residents. He then was one of its volunteers who covered the 31 delivery routes.

His first stop was at the home of widower John Krall, 93, who said he's been enjoying the meals for the past few years.

'The meals are good,” the former plumbing business owner said. 'I eat 'em.”

Krall also enjoys the interaction with the volunteers who deliver his meals.

'They always come in and say something to make you smile,” Krall told Blum, who spent about 20 minutes visiting and talking about their shared Czech heritage, World War II honor flights and the cost of prescription medicine.

'The price keeps going up so much I won't be able to afford it unless I get a job,” Krall joked.

Blum said each Meals on Wheels recipient he talked to 'was extremely happy with the service and also talked about how much they enjoy being able to interact daily with the wonderful Horizons staff and volunteers.”

Because his late mother received the meals, Blum was aware of how important the service is to elderly Iowans.

The senior 'are still living in their own homes, and Horizons is doing a great job helping them maintain their independence by providing these meals,” Blum said.

Blum will face Monica Vernon in the November election.