When Clayton Rodgers knocks on a door in the Bennett community of Chatham County, he brings more than the daily sustenance and encouraging word associated with the Meals on Wheels program. To be under the watchful eye of Rodgers, in this small, unincorporated area of 386, is to have access to a friendly face and unceasing advocacy.
"With all of them, one of the common threads has been contact with the outside world," Rodgers said. "They enjoy the contact time, I know that."
Each Monday morning, Rodgers leaves his home in Pittsboro and makes the roughly half-hour trek to Routh's Grocery in Bennett. Once there, he awaits the arrival of a Golden Corral van, which delivers the meals for the day. On this route, a total of six meals are delivered to four households containing two couples and a pair of individuals.
While these meals are the cornerstone of every interaction, Rodgers constantly takes mental stock of the needs of his clients. Are they safe? Are there any new health concerns that require the attention of Chatham County Council on Aging staff?
Council staff has come to expect weekly emailed reports from Rodgers aptly titled "Report from Bennett." Any needs, such as incontinence supplies, are noted in these comments as well as general observations about the well-being of clients.
For Rodgers, the impetus for becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer was the concept of paying it forward. In time, Rodgers anticipates he will have his own need for Meals on Wheels services. Certainly, Rodgers has fielded queries from clients as to why he takes four hours out of each Monday to ensure Bennett seniors in need have access to a meal and hearty conversation.
"I'm doing this to earn credits, so that somebody will watch over me in 10 years or whenever!" he said. "And we all laugh and they say, ‘Well, we understand that.’"
The four hours of time Rodgers banks each week to carry out his volunteer tasks are intentional. At most of his stops, the client will invite Rodgers inside for an extended period of chatting. He's happy to oblige, sitting on the porch of James and Rebecca Jones while music serenades a peaceful scene in the backyard. James and Rebecca sit on their porch swing, reminiscing about days gone by and what brought them to this area of Chatham County. Their 9-year-old chihuahua, Dingo, inspects all visitors before finding the best place to absorb the sun's rays on the porch deck.
At the home of Lucy Wallace, a remodeling project is underway in her kitchen. As Rodgers brings the day's meal, he passes a mailbox on the porch that has been specifically set up for Wallace to receive her mail instead of having to venture all the way to the road. Like the Jones', the presence of Rodgers provides an opportunity for Wallace to catch up on current events and receive assurance that a smiling volunteer stands at the ready to advocate for her needs. It is impossible to leave the Wallace household without being offered a piece of chocolate.
Once the route is completed, Rodgers makes trek back to Routh's, returns the meal bags to a corner of the store for safekeeping and promises to return the following Monday — but not before purchasing a bag of chips and Coca-Cola for the drive home. Other faithful drivers will ensure that Bennett residents are served for the remainder of the week.
As for Rodgers, he'll be back in this sleepy area of Chatham County in seven days’ time, ready to invest in the needs of today's Meals on Wheels recipients in the hopes that one day, a knock will ring out at his own home.