Helena High School, Capital Athletes Deliver Meals on Wheels for RMDC

Max Christensen had somewhere to be Tuesday that wasn't fourth period.

"I should be in school, but it's a good volunteer opportunity, so I had to take it," the Capital High School senior said.

Christensen was one of a group of student-athletes from Helena High School and Capital High School chosen by their principals to volunteer with the Rocky Mountain Development Council's Meals on Wheels program, joining a network of 70 volunteers who fan out Monday through Friday to deliver prepared meals and milk cartons from Helena south to Boulder and into neighboring counties.

The RMDC's Meals on Wheels program has run for more than 50 years, helping homebound seniors stay independent, maintain proper nutrition, and stay connected to their community. Last year alone, it provided over 83,000 meals to 800 people across the region.

Christensen and fellow Capital High senior Brit Linder rode with veteran volunteer John Connor, stopping at more than 20 houses on their route and meeting the recipients face to face. Connor said the students exceeded his expectations.

"They're mature for their age, it seemed to me," Connor said. "These guys were willing to do whatever. They were interactive, they were helpful, so yeah, I thought it was very good."

For Meals on Wheels recipient Debra Hoppe, seeing young people on the route carried its own meaning. "It's a blessing that we have the youngsters going along with the senior citizens, and I'm glad that they have the role models," she said.

Helena High junior Isabel Ward described the experience as the kind that doesn't come along often. "I mean, I go to school every day, and sometimes it's kind of rare that you have opportunities to reach out and be part of something special," Ward said.

Students were selected by their respective principals to participate, with the expectation that they would serve as role models for peers who might follow.

Christensen put the impulse simply: "So many people have given back to us growing up in Helena. So I think it's important to give back to people, and it makes you feel good about yourself.