Shirley Meeker, center, is presented with the 2024 Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year Award Tuesday from Christie Barns, left, Mary Rutan Foundation Community Outreach, and Kelsey Snowden, Area Agency on Aging communications and training coordinator. (EXAMINER PHOTO | T.J. HUBBARD)
An unsung hero of the Logan County community who serves behind-the-scenes in a variety of capacities, including volunteering many hours at Lutheran Community Services and with the American Red Cross, was presented Tuesday, May 14, with the Logan County Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year Award.
Shirley Meeker was presented with the 2024 award at the Logan County Senior Day and Resource Fair at the Logan County Friendly Senior Center to a roomful of grateful fellow seniors and community members.
Christie Barns, Mary Rutan Foundation Community Outreach, and Kelsey Snowden, Area Agency on Aging communications and training coordinator, introduced Meeker and shared about her accomplishments.
Her nominator Mary Jo Altstaetter said when asked why she is so passionate about serving people, Meeker quickly responds, “That’s what God wants me to do.”
“She encourages others to get involved and to make a difference in the community,” Altstaetter said. “Meeker goes about her involvement in such a quiet, humble way that many do not realize the extent of her activities.”
Throughout her life, the award recipient has used her skills of providing physical and emotional nourishment to others in a variety of situations. During her career years, she worked at Tinsley’s IGA and 10 years with the Bellefontaine City Schools food service department.
Meeker recalls serving as a volunteer cook for the former Loving Hands Day Care Center, which was active in the 1990’s. She also enjoyed doing crafts and listening to the attendees.
Her volunteer hours increased as opportunities for volunteer food service arose, her nominator said.
Kim Collum, Lutheran Community Services executive director, was able to pinpoint that Meeker gave leadership to a church group that volunteered to serve one meal bi-monthly for Our Daily Bread when the group moved to a new facility in 1993. Collum noted that Meeker had previously helped serve evening meals at Bellefontaine Presbyterian Church.
Meeker’s responsibilities with LCS include planning the menu, purchasing food, cooking the meal with assistance, recruiting and overseeing volunteers in serving the meal and cleanup. In 2023, Lutheran Community Services moved to a larger facility and Meeker continues in her role.
“Collum noted that only a few groups take care of the entire meal these days,” Altstaetter said. “Yet, Meeker can be counted on to do just that.”
Meeker also has led a group of volunteers in kitchen duties at a regular American Red Cross Bloodmobile.
“This involved preparing a meal for the staff members involved with the blood donations. The kitchen crew also prepared a delicious vegetable soup for the many donors. Other volunteers brought homemade cookies for the two-day event,” her nominator said.
In addition, Meeker donated more than 16 gallons of blood. This is the equivalent of 128 donations, which contributed to improving the health of many individuals. Given that one can donate blood six times a year, she donated blood over a period of 19 years, Altstaetter related. Meeker acknowledges that she quit counting her donations after she reached the 16-gallon mark.
Along the way, Meeker became active in the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. She helps wherever she is needed, including a three-hour shift each week when members of the community access the services from the free choice pantry. She also stocks shelves, shops for the pantry and is involved with Project Merry Christmas.
In 2024, Meeker’s marks her 40th year as a member of Nu Beta Sorority, a service/friendship organization. She is involved with the annual breakfast with Santa. She takes charge of the group that provides monthly bingo at Logan Acres Care Center (LACC) which involves providing gifts for the residents, leading the bingo activities and socializing with the residents.
Meeker is well known for her culinary skills, including the Mercy meals her team serves following funerals at St. Patrick Church.
“Community members are very aware that Meeker does much more than add her name to a group’s membership roster. She rolls up her sleeves and gets the work done,” her nominator said, making note of her work most recently with tornado relief in Lakeview.
“Meeker has devoted and continues to devote herself to our community. In doing so, she has brought purpose and meaning to her own life and the lives of many individuals.”