Every weekday around lunchtime, Jerry Sumerel hears a knock on his door and knows that a friendly face is waiting on the other side with lunch from United Way Meals on Wheels.
At 88, he still lives in the Hoover home he built more than 30 years ago. The walls are lined with travel photos and Alabama football memorabilia.
A lifelong fan, Jerry has met every Crimson Tide coach since Bear Bryant. And his refrigerator is covered in magnets from the many places he’s visited.
“I’ve been lucky,” he said. “My life was full of traveling. I spent a month in China once, and walking the Great Wall was something I’ll never forget.”
An Artisan at Heart
Patience and attention to detail have always defined Jerry’s life. For decades, he worked as a machinist at the ABC Coke Plant, shaping metal with precision and pride. It was an artform to him. Outside of work, he poured that same skill into his hobby of crafting miniature cannons for friends and family.
Today, life moves at a slower pace. Jerry manages several health challenges, including heart problems and skin cancer; and he needs a cane to get around on ailing legs. Cooking has become difficult. And simple errands take more energy than they used to. But thanks to some neighborly advice, many of his meals are now taken care of.
The First Step Toward Help Was a Simple Phone Call
“My neighbor is 91, and he’s the one who told me about Meals on Wheels,” Jerry said. “He gave me the number, and within a couple of weeks, a case manager came out and interviewed me. Before long, I was on the program.”
Now, five days a week, a hot meal and a warm smile arrive at his door.
“If it wasn’t for Meals on Wheels, I don’t know what I’d do,” he said. “It’s been a relief because I can’t stand long enough to cook anymore, and it’s hard to go out for both breakfast and lunch.”
More Than a Meal — A Friendship
One of the Meals on Wheels volunteers who regularly delivers to Jerry is Becky Hunter. Through the years, she’s become more than a delivery driver — she’s become a friend. Their short visits often turn into conversations about family (he’s a devoted father and grandfather), everyday life and, of course, football.
“I love to see Mrs. Becky come,” he said with a smile. “She’s one of my favorites. I think I’ve about pushed her over to being an Alabama fan now.”
After showing Becky his collection of Alabama footballs one day, she later surprised him with a handmade gnome dressed like a Crimson Tide player.
“I thought that was great,” Jerry said. “It’s nice to know somebody’s thinking about you.”
A Life-Changing Community Service
Surrounded by reminders of a life well lived, Jerry takes comfort in the daily knock that brings connection, care and the independence he’s worked hard to maintain.
“These meals mean everything to me,” he said. “They help me stay independent and remind me that people care. You don’t have to worry about going hungry, and you don’t have to worry about getting out and driving somewhere. They bring it to you, and they care.”
You can help ensure more neighbors such as Jerry receive the support they need to live at home and on their own. To help Meals on Wheels serve even more seniors in need, click here now.