For most of us, it's easy to get out during the day. Friends and family will drop in on us or call to see how we're doing.

But there's also plenty of senior citizens out there who just can't get out like they used to. They may not drive or they are ill. And, in many cases, they can't cook for themselves either.

That's where Meals on Wheels steps in. Run by SAGE since 1966, the Millburn-Short Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross recruits and schedules people to drive each weekday to deliver hot meals to senior citizens in town who just may not be able to get out like they used to.

On Thursday, I had the chance to ride along with Brad Wilhelm and Doris Hillson as they visited a number of Millburn-Short Hills residents to deliver the meals. Thursday for us at Patch was Give 5 Day, which is one of the days throughout the year we employees volunteer our time to community organizations. Thanks to the Red Cross and SAGE for allowing me to ride along with Brad and Doris to deliver meals because it was an incredible experience.

We met at the Red Cross chapter house at just before 10 a.m. where we picked up the chapter's Jeep and the containers and trays we'd use to deliver the food. From there, we headed to SAGE headquarters in Summit to pick up the food.

Overlook Hospital prepares the food for SAGE that is delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers not only in Millburn-Short Hills, but in several Union County communities including Summit and Berkeley Heights. The hot meal included rice and chicken and tomato soup on Thursday. There also was a bag of cold food for the clients to eat later plus two small containers of milk.

We packed up the food and we were off to deliver it to several Millburn-Short Hills senior citizens. Brad and Doris told me there are a number of people on the route who are regulars, so they come to know them well. Some are on and off the route depending on their health. Sadly, they've also seen people's health decline over the time they've delivered meals. Some have been removed from the route because they've died or their family moves them into an assisted living facility or nursing home.

Visiting the clients is the most enjoyable part of the day. You don't visit long and some chat more than others, but the smiling faces because you're bringing lunch makes it an incredible experience. I got to meet one woman's adorable dog, another told me about how long she's lived in her current residence (she moved there when she was 10 years old) and another showed off her beautiful back yard through the kitchen window. It's welcome socialization for these people who may not see someone otherwise, and it was wonderful visiting with them. I was smiling as much as they were when we left.

We were done by noon, so in all we volunteered two hours of our time to bring not only food but company to these senior citizens.

The Red Cross is in need of more volunteers for Meals on Wheels, and everyone does it in a different way. Brad volunteers weekly on Thursdays, but Doris volunteers when she is available since she travels a lot.

There are other ways to volunteer your time at the Red Cross too. They are in need of volunteers to drive people to medical appointments, and they need people to do clerical work including answering the phone at the chapter house.

If interested, contact the Millburn-Short Hills chapter at 973-379-4198.