“I happen to believe that God put mankind on this earth for two reasons – to protect the earth and to take care of each other,” Mobile Meals of Salem President Geoff Goll said.

Mobile Meals of Salem recently met at the Salem Golf Club for its annual meeting, celebrating more than 400,000 meals delivered without a single missed delivery in 50 years.

Goll said that in addition to serving as an opportunity to conduct Mobile Meals’ annual business, including financial and coordinator reports, and nomination of board members, the annual meeting serves as an opportunity to recognize the dedication of the organization’s volunteers.

“In October 1975 when we prepared and trialed our bylaws, we thought it would be a good idea if the membership met once a year just so we could say ‘thank you.’ So, this is the 50th time that we have met once per year and we’re very proud to have you,” Goll said.

Mobile Meals of Salem President Geoff Goll announces that the organizations had officially delivered more than 400,000 meals to Salem and Perry Township residents over the last 50 years and lead the invocation. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Goll also thanked Mobile Meals of Salem’s community partners including the Salem Regional Medical Center and the Salem Community Foundation, which he said the organization could not have become what it is today without. He said that without the generosity of the Salem Regional Medical Center they would be unable to reach the number of clients they serve.

“We’d like to reiterate how much we appreciate all the services rendered to us…We don’t have to pay rent because the hospital is kind enough to let us use their [space] and gives us a phone line and gets our mail. The hospital has been really, really generous to us,” Goll said.

Goll said that Mobile Meals endowment with the community foundation began with an initial investment of $3,000, and that with subsequent reinvestment through donations and gifts and the management of the community foundation it was worth more than $425,000. He said that prior to the endowment all packaging and administrative costs were paid out of the pockets of members of Mobile Meals, as the price clients pay is always exactly the cost of food.

“For the first 15 years of this organization we had no money. We charge, and have always charged, the client whatever we’re charged for the meal. That meant the board members bought the bags and did the administration; we did not have a hired coordinator. In 1983, we were gifted approximately $3,000 and the board elected to start a fund at the Salem Community Foundation,” Goll said. “What we have is all because of gifts. We don’t earn any money. We only ever charge what is charged to us. We have never touched the principal only the revenue which is generated by the [community] foundation and that is how we pay our coordinator and for all our supplies.”

Treasurer Gina Dermotta said that Mobile Meals currently has 22 volunteers serving 59 clients in Salem City and Perry Township, and that Shane Franks had completed the most volunteer hours this year with 124 hours.

Mobile Meals of Salem Vice President Daniel Moore welcomed and recognized the assembled guests and recognized the contributions of Geoff Goll to the organization over the last 50 years. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

“Fiftyyears without a missed delivery. Fifty years is 12,750 days delivering. That’s 12,750 times that cars were loaded, and 12,750 times clients were greeted by wonderful kind volunteers,” Dermotta said.

The meeting also saw comments from former president and volunteer coordinator, and founding member of Mobile Meals of Salem, Laurel Todd, read on her behalf by Carol Sue Headland. Todd recounted memories of the organization’s early years and compared her experience serving in the organization to a successful coach reflecting on the accomplishments of the athletes they led during their career.

“A beloved coach for the swim team of a local high school was asked after 51 years how many state championships he had won and answered, ‘I haven’t won a single championship because I never swam in a single meet.’ When asked how many of his swimmers had won, he responded with the number 39,” Headland read. “Although a coach plays an important role, he didn’t want to take credit in what his swimmers had accomplished. Anyone who has voluntarily served in any capacity for mobile meals, you are the swimmers. You are the team. It takes all of us to work together to make this day of celebration possible.”

Goll also reflected on his own experience becoming a member of Mobile Meals and said that he was eager to see what the assembled board members and volunteers achieved in the next year.

As the meeting drew to a close Board Vice President Daniel Moore thanked Goll for his decades of leadership and service to the organization, which he said had helped to shape Mobile Meals of Salem into what it is today ahead of his upcoming retirement as Mobile Meals president after 20 years of service in the position.

Mobile Meals of Salem Treasurer Gine Dermotta provides the annual treasurer’s report. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

“As many of you know, Geoff has been involved with Mobile Meals from the very beginning. He played an instrumental role in preparing, drafting, and implementation our original regulations. Since 2005 Geoff has faithfully served as president of Mobile meals, 21 years of dedicated leadership. Under Geoff’s leadership, Mobile Meals has delivered more than 400,000 meals to members of our community without missing a scheduled delivery,” Moore said. “That accomplishment represents far more than a number. It represents independence preserved, friendships maintained, families supported and countless reminders to our clients that their community cares about them…Geoff, on behalf of the board of directors, our volunteers, our clients, and the entire community, thank you for your leadership, your dedication, your generosity and the unwavering belief in the mission of mobile meals.”