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COLUMBIA — Driving around the north side of Columbia with directions leading her from house to house, Deborah Booker makes her way through town, delivering food for Meals on Wheels. Booker, 71, has been a volunteer for the program for eight years.
The retired equestrian teacher, who lives north of Columbia on her 5 acres of land where she tends to her horses and ponies, volunteers to drive meals to people at least once a week. On a drizzly Friday afternoon in late October, Booker had five locations for deliveries. She knocked on doors, and with a quick exchange of greetings, Booker passed along the meals to their recipients and went on her way.
“You’re paying back the community that’s helped you,” Booker said.
As a former teacher, Booker explains the philosophy “each one, teach one.” If people extend their hands to help someone out, then people who have received help have the chance to extend their hand, to yet another person.
“Because they helped you, you are now able to help another," Booker said.
- Deborah Booker, left, returns from making deliveries for Meals on Wheels on Friday, Oct. 24. Norma and Ernie Falloon, right, two other volunteers with the program, collect the money for the food on Fridays.
- Karen Carter, left, with Meals on Wheels, and Deborah Booker, right, talk while Booker waits to start her deliveries.
- Deborah Booker, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, delivers food to one of her five locations on the north side of Columbia on Friday, Oct. 24.
- Deborah Booker, a former equestrian teacher, delivers food for Meals on Wheels because it matches her philosophy "each one, teach one." If a person extends his or her hand to help someone out, then the person who has received help has the chance to extend his or her hand to yet another person.
- Deborah Booker, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, delivers food on the north side of Columbia on Friday, Oct. 24. "You're paying back the community that's helped you," Booker said.
- Deborah Booker, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, delivers food in north Columbia on Friday, Oct. 24. Booker, 71, is a retired teacher who began volunteering eight years ago.
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