Pictured, from left, John Elliott, vice-president and trust officer at 1st Source Bank in Warsaw; Colleen Craigen of Warsaw; and David Neff, executive director of Kosciusko Community Senior Services.

WARSAW — Kosciusko Community Senior Services was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Pfledierer Charitable Trust.

The trust was established by Esther Pfleiderer to assist charitable organizations in Kosciusko County in improving the quality of life in the county. Pfleiderer was born and raised in Warsaw and taught math for 39 years in the Warsaw school system. She was very active in the community, serving on various boards, including the Salvation Army, Warsaw Community Public Library, Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kosciusko County Historical Society and the ministries of the First Presbyterian Church. In 1982 Pfleiderer was recognized as Warsaw’s ‘Woman of the Year.’

Vice-President and Trust officer John Elliott of 1st Source Bank, Warsaw, oversees the Pfledierer Trust.

“As we reviewed the grant application from Kosciusko Community Senior Services, we were impressed with the amount of meals served and the many volunteers involved in delivering these meals,” Elliott said.

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Elliott had the opportunity to accompany KCSS Executive Director David Neff on a mobile meal delivery route to observe first-hand how the KCSS meal delivery program operates.

Approximately 100 physician-approved meals are delivered each day, Monday through Friday, throughout the county by KCSS. Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, prepares meals for seven of the routes. Miller’s Merry Manor prepares meals for the Syracuse route, while meals for the route in Milford are made at Lakeland Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center.

“The whole objective of everything we do is to sustain seniors in their homes as long as possible,” said Neff.

Frozen emergency meals are available for weekends or in case of inclement weather. If school is cancelled, the meals are not delivered.

“If it’s not safe for the school buses to be out on the roads, we figure it isn’t safe for our volunteers to be out,” Neff explained.

Neff recommends that each senior keep four or five frozen meals on hand.

“I was very impressed with the organization involved in having the meals ready for volunteers to pick up as well as the information and delivery instructions,” noted Elliott, who said he enjoyed having the opportunity to meet some of the recipients.

KCSS is short on drivers for the Mobile Meals delivery program for the month January. Anyone interested in volunteering at KCSS can fill out an application here or call (574) 267-2012 and ask for Beverly.

“As we were delivering the meals, I shared that the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust had made a grant to assist in funding this service,” said Elliott. “One of the recipients said, ‘I knew Esther. She taught school in Warsaw for many years.’ I left knowing that Esther would approve of her funds being used to help support this valuable program in our community.”

Pictured, from left, KCSS Executive Director David Neff, Joan Ann Cox of Warsaw and 1st Source Bank Vice-President and Trust Officer John Elliott.