Volunteers Deliver Meals, Smiles For National Grandparents Day

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Grandparents, get ready to feel the love!

As CBS 2's Janelle Burrell reported, volunteers worked Saturday to make sure homebound seniors weren't forgotten on National Grandparents Day tomorrow.

Tiffany Challenger, 12, has grandparents of her own, but on National Grandparents Day, she'll be adopting five others.

"I like to see the smiles on their faces," she said.

She and her mother, Heava Challenger, are regular volunteers with City Meals on Wheels. On Saturday, there were making cards.

"It says 'Happy Grandparents Day. There is no one like you, you're original,'" Tiffany said.

The mother-daughter pair from the Bronx delivered hot meals to the seniors, alongside several other children and parents who were taking time out of their Saturday to make the 90 deliveries.

A total of 18,000 of the meals are delivered citywide each day.

"Some people who can't get out of their homes or can't buy food," volunteer Sylvie Bless said of those they are serving.

For many seniors, getting the cards and a visit from volunteers is the only interaction they have for an entire day.

With their coolers and cards, the group made the trek across the Upper East Side.

Teresa Thomasello, 91, was ecstatic to have the company.

"They're beautiful, all of them. How nice," she said.

"It gives life and a lot of joy to meal recipients," Rachel Sherrow of City Meals on Wheels said.

But the meal recipients aren't the only ones walking away with a smile.

"It feels pretty great. It feels pretty special," Tiffany said.

Last year, the program—which is separate from the Meals on Wheels program—had 19,000 volunteers provide more than 67,000 hours of service.

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