Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
Helen Pickett is a woman who embodies the true spirit of service. For years, she has dedicated herself to volunteer work in the community. After a decade with Meals on Wheels, serving meals at the local senior center, Helen’s usual routine was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of letting that stop her, she found new ways to continue serving her community.
“When COVID hit, there were lots of senior citizens who couldn’t get to the center for their meals. Lots of them became homebound, so Meals on Wheels called me, and we decided to start delivering meals,” Helen recalls.
Now, Helen delivers meals to 43 homebound citizens in the area, Monday through Friday. Her process is a labor of love: she carefully packages meals in containers and coolers, loads them into her car, and heads out. Each visit isn’t just about food—it’s about connection. Helen spends time with the recipients, lending a hand with tasks they can’t manage themselves and offering companionship.
But Helen’s concern for her homebound clients goes beyond the weekday meal deliveries. Worried about their access to food over the weekends, she partnered with Mission of Hope, a food pantry and clothes closet in Dora. Together, they created a program to deliver weekly bags filled with pre-packaged foods, snacks, and other essentials.
“On Wednesdays, I come and pick up all the bags to deliver. For my homebound, it’s like Christmas. They start asking me on Tuesday when I’m going to deliver them. And we pack the items in colorful bags to brighten their day,” Helen says with a smile. “They also pack me a special bag and fill it with lots of Sun Chips!”
Helen’s work with Mission of Hope has earned her admiration from the organization’s Executive Director, Lori Abercrombie.
“Can you imagine what it would be like to be 95 years old and not have a family to take care of you, or how much it means to get a hot meal and a friendly face? Miss Helen is the hands and feet of our organization. She lifts people’s spirits, and we’re honored to be a part of her team,” Lori says.
Over the years, Helen has formed deep bonds with the people she serves. She says these relationships mean as much to her as they do to her homebound clients.
“When my brother and sister passed away, having my homebound gave me peace of mind and the strength to want to go on,” Helen says. “I’ve got to take care of my homebound; they need me. They give me purpose, and they have become part of my family. I thank God for them every day.” WL
