Heisler is Bridgewater's go-to guy when it comes to Meals on Wheels

BRIDGEWATER -- For the past 15 years, Hank Heisler has been the guy the Bridgewater Senior Center staff can count on to help get the Meals on Wheels packed and delivered to as many as 50 local shut-ins four days a week. Never mind that Heisler is older -- sometimes far older -- than the average person he's serving.

The 85-year-old resident of the Scotland side of Bridgewater says he likes the routine. And, he says, it gives his wife, Lydia, a break from his company for a couple hours on Monday through Thursday mornings. ''She's glad to get rid of me," Heisler said of his wife of 61 years. ''Too much togetherness can cause problems."

Staff at the senior center say Heisler, who is always ready with a helping hand and a little joke, is a mainstay in their volunteer program. On a recent Monday morning, Heisler, while deftly ladling soup into nearly 50 travel cups, talked about how he got started in the Meals on Wheels program. ''I visited my brother in Georgia, and he was sick," Heisler recalled. ''He couldn't get Meals on Wheels because there were no drivers to deliver them. When I came back from my visit, I volunteered here."

Back in 1990, volunteer drivers picked up packaged meals at the Old Colony Elderly Services office in Brockton and then delivered them to homebound Bridgewater residents. ''The people are always glad to see you," Heisler said. ''Some might want to talk a little, but there are very few complaints. They are always very appreciative."

Heisler drove the route, which usually took about two hours, for 13 years. ''Then my car gave out," he said. According to Lorraine Carrozza, Bridgewater's director of elder affairs, that was in 2003 -- about the same time Old Colony Elderly Services began delivering the meals in bulk form to the area's senior centers.

Local volunteers were needed to divide the food into individual servings and pack the meals in foil trays for drivers to deliver. The crew would also set up the group meals served daily at the senior center.

''Hank said, 'Just because I'm no longer able to drive doesn't mean I'm not going to help,' " Carrozza said. So for the past two years, Heisler has been counted on to report to the senior center's back room shortly before 9 a.m. four days a week, wheel in the bulk food from the delivery truck on dollies, and then get the meals packed.

Gloria Lemieux, the senior center's nutrition site coordinator, said packers have to be careful to set up slightly different meals for diabetics and be sure those meals are clearly marked. She said Heisler is always on top of the situation, and added, ''I always defer to Hank because of his experience."

During his working career, Heisler was a meat buyer for Angelo's Supermarket. He retired in 1986. ''When he came here, he used to make wonderful dinners for the senior citizens," Lemieux said. ''He was the 'Meat Man.' "

The Meals on Wheels program relies almost solely on volunteers like Heisler. ''Some days we have other volunteers, and some days it's just Hank and I," Lemieux said. ''If it weren't for my volunteers, I don't know how this program would run."

Bill Pincolini, who helps set up the meals a couple days each week before teaching the senior painting class, said Heisler is a ''terrific fellow" who is always willing to pitch in -- including serving food for the annual Christmas party.

Heisler is soon turning 86, but he has no plans to stop his volunteer work with the Meals on Wheels program.

''As far as I can see, it's out of my hands," Heisler said. ''My plan for the next stop is Scotland Cemetery."

Christine Wallgren can be reached at clwallgren@aol.com.