History

The idea for a Meals on Wheels program for the State College School District area originated in March 1971 as a Lenten project of the State College Ministerium led by the Rev. Canon James B. Trost of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and The Rev. Peter Mackey of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ. The Ministerium worked with members of The Altrusa Club of State College and Church Women United to fund this program.

A task force was developed to put together a Meals on Wheels Program and consisted of the following:

Lillian Husted, Chair
The Rev. Peter Mackey
Dr. Rose Cologne
Ann Cook
Eleanor Eccelston
Louise B. Hamilton
Mary Lou Herlocher
The Rev. Canon James B. Trost
Margaret Yost
Charles Weyandt, attorney, drafted the original bylaws

First Board of Directors (1971):
Eleanor Eccleston, President
Bill Jeffries
Frances Forbes
Adele Haugh
Ken Kulp
Madge Spearly
John Swinton
The Rev. James Trost

First Meal Served: August 16, 1971 to 28 clients

Executive Directors:

1971-1985	Margaret Yost
1985-1986	Christine Helwig, Interim
1986-1988	Teresa M. Reis, RD
1988-2014	Anna Carol Buffington, RD, LDN
2014-2020	Christine Tyler
2020-2021	Suelynn Shiller
2022-Present	Michael Brindley

Meals on Wheels Presidents:

1971-1974	Eleanor Eccleston, R.D.
1974-1975	Lillian Husted
1975-1977	Louise W. Hamilton, R.D.
1977-1978	Ken H. Kulp
1978-1981	H. K. “Hank” Anders
1981-1984	Thurston Reeves
1984-1985	John Swinton
1986-1989	Ethel Quarles
1989	Blair Bice
1989	Adele Haugh
1990-1991	Helene Rayburn
1992-1995	Harold Walton
1996-1997	Helen Schroeder
1998-2000	Glen Haney
2001-2002	Joel Mock
2003-2004	Donn Frazier
2005	Michael Conti
2005-2015	William Haner
2016-2018	Michael Scott
2019-Present	Sharon Ambrose

Program Milestone: Five-day per week service initiated the week of June 15-19, 2015. 50 clients received meals for the first time on a Tuesday (June 16, 2015).