photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph Gillian Sheridan of KYTX CBS 19 guest delivers meals with Meals on Wheels board of directors member and delivery driver Michael Rogers to clients along his route in Tyler, Texas Thursday March 19, 2015. Meals on Wheels had local celebrities deliver meals as part of their March for Meals event.

Tyler resident Bill Buhler worked as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels back in the 1990s, alongside his late wife, for many years. Mr. Buhler now is grateful for the service, as he is older and homebound.

“It’s nice not to have to rely on family all the time,” Buhler said. “It’s a great organization and there’s a lot of people that I don’t think know just how good it is.”

Mr. Buhler was one of the many Meals on Wheels recipients who local community leaders got the opportunity to meet on Thursday, when they helped the organization deliver meals.

The event was part of the annual “March for Meals” campaign that promotes awareness for hungry seniors in East Texas. Smith County’s Meals on Wheels program currently has 1,325 active clients who receive meals Monday through Thursday, including a frozen meal for Friday, delivered Thursday.

“I think the program is great, it affords a lot of people a meal that are not able to get out and go to a restaurant or acquire the food any other way,” Clyde Wilfong, a 95-year-old Meals on Wheels client, said. “The volunteers are friendly and help out in any way.”

Zoe Lawhorn, vice president of development and public relations for Meals on Wheels in Tyler, said seniors and their families may apply to receive meals online at www.mowmet.org. Mrs. Lawhorn said some seniors are able pay a nominal fee for meals, while some others who may not be able to afford meals may qualify to receive them for free.

Among the local leaders who participated were city council members from six surrounding counties and media personalities from local media outlets, including Gillian Sheridan of CBS19, the Tyler Morning Telegraph’s news partner.

Outside of Smith County, Meals on Wheels serves more than 3,000 seniors and homebound individuals in 30 communities, including Gregg, Henderson, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties.

Lawhorn said the organization is in need of volunteers. For information about Meals on Wheels, call 903-593-7385.