Then, he makes that person's day.

Since 1976, Friendship Trays volunteers have been delivering meals in a caring and friendly manner to individuals who are unable to prepare their own because of age and/or infirmity.

Shell says he got involved because he remembered skipping lunch on far too many occasions as a child. "I found out about it through my church.

"It reminded me of my youth. We got breakfast but we couldn't afford lunch, so we didn't get anything else to eat until 3:30 that afternoon. That's why I got involved... the people who deliver the food to them are sometimes the only people they'll see that day."

Shell says he'll never forget his first day delivering meals.

He wasn't sure about going into people's homes, but an early experience taught him that the human contact was just as valuable to those inside the homes as the food they were being provided.

"The second house I ever went to, the elderly gentleman was sitting in his chair telling us how no one cared about him and how they had turned his power off in his home," Shell said.

"He pleaded for us to help him because he thought we were going to just hand him his food and go.

"To see the desperation in his face, the feeling that no one cared about him, was touching.

"We spent some time with him and we talked to the power company and got his power back on for him.

"It was a valuable experience for me because I saw what I could actually do for somebody. I wasn't just writing a check or handing somebody food. I was getting involved and helping them."

Everyone understands what hungry feels like. Not everyone can appreciate desperation or loneliness, though, until they see it first-hand. Helping out takes more than just a desire to drive and deliver. It can require patience as well.

"They're elderly, so some of them have ailments and you have to be patient with them," said Shell. "Sometimes it takes them two or three minutes just for them to answer the door, for instance.

"But believe me they're glad to see you. They're waiting on their meal and they're waiting to see you."

Shell says although an average of 95 daily volunteers provide 720 meals each week day, more help is needed.

"We need more volunteers," he said. "There are a lot of elderly people who live by themselves and are barely able to get along. The waiting list of people we are trying to help is getting longer."

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