JACKSONVILLE-After overseeing the senior meals program for 10 years, Terrie Dumaine is stepping down from her post as director, where she oversaw the distribution of delivered meals as well as the serving of in-person lunches two days a week.
The position, which is a volunteer post, was a labor of love for Dumaine. She told The Deerfield Valley News that the decision to leave was a difficult one.
"It was devastating," said Dumaine. "These people are like family to me, and I'm walking away from them. […] And the volunteers are so dedicated and hard-working. They're just beautiful people. I'm going to miss them very much."
Dumaine said that on average, she spent about 15 hours a week coordinating the congregate meals and the delivery of Meals on Wheels. That's time she needs to dedicate to her paid work as a bookkeeper.
However, the 10 years she spent dedicated to the volunteer job in Jacksonville were some of the most rewarding of her life, she said.
"It has to be the most rewarding thing I've done in my life," said Dumaine. "Ten years. I love these people. I care about these people."
She initially got involved with senior meals after the former director moved on and she continually saw posts about the need for a new volunteer to coordinate the program.
"There was something in the newspaper that said they were looking for some business or nonprofit organization to take it over, and nobody had come forward - it had been like three months," she said.
Dumaine said at the same time, she was at the post office and two locals pulled her aside. They suggested she and her then-husband, Dave, take over the senior meals program.
"Everywhere I looked I saw about it. It was like the universe was talking to me," said Terrie Dumaine.
At the time, Dumaine ran the numbers and decided that so long as she would break even, the meals program would remain something she wanted to take on.
That decision has led to a decade of crafting nutritious meals for people throughout the valley for about $10 a plate, about $5 of which is funded by Senior Solutions. The rest comes from suggested donations from attendees and other contributions, such as appropriations from towns.
According to Liza Eager, nutrition and wellness director for Senior Solutions, the Deerfield Valley senior meals program far outpaces similar programs throughout the state. Statewide, senior meals happen in a range of settings, from large senior centers to smaller, rural settings like churches and community centers.
"In more rural communities, community meals tend to be less frequent," said Eager. "There are some where there's one a week. There are more where there's one or two a month. And then there's the Deerfield Valley and Terrie. Two days a week, every week."
It's in no small part due to Dumaine's dedication, said Eager, that Deerfield Valley Senior Meals serves, on average, as many meals per year as much bigger programs.
Projections for 2026 show that the program will serve upward of 6,200 home-delivered meals and 3,750 congregate meals. A program in Brattleboro, said Eager, serves about the same number of meals for a more populous area.
"It is a herculean effort," said Eager. "I don't know how to say it any other way. It's unbelievable."
Dumaine said she was blown away when she posted a need for someone to take her post and a volunteer quickly stepped forward. Eager said she's working with that volunteer to see if taking over coordinating the congregate meals is going to be feasible for her.
In the meantime, Eager is looking to partner with an organization to coordinate the delivery of Meals on Wheels, which requires management of a network of volunteer drivers.
"It's a complicated job," said Eager. "It's a bunch of volunteers and quite a lot of meals. All Meals on Wheels drivers are heroes. But there are some especially long routes in the Deerfield Valley."
Eager said Senior Solutions is immensely grateful for the work Dumaine has put in over the years.
"We are so grateful for Terrie's work," she said. "We really hope that we can find community members and community organizations to step forward to carry some of this because it is so important."
Dumaine shares that hope.
"It's so important for us to take care of our seniors," she said. "We're always looking for volunteers. It's so rewarding."
A version of this story appeared in The Deerfield Valley News, The Commons' sister newspaper. In addition to Dumaine's departure, current chef Ron Pierce is looking to move on from his post soon. Community members with cooking skills who are interested in volunteering can reach out through the "Deerfield Valley Senior Meals" Facebook page.
This News item by Lauren Harkawik originally appeared in The Deerfield Valley News and was republished in The Commons with permission.