It’s the first time the program has been stopped by the weather.

In the early 1990s, Meals on Wheels had an emergency list of drivers who used four-wheel drive vehicles to deliver meals.

“Then came the mild winters,” said Director Daryl Bruner. The emergency list wasn’t needed and it got out of date.

Plans are being made to ensure delivery of hot meals to the elderly and handicapped despite the weather.

The program uses nearly 500 volunteers to deliver meals to about 100 residents across the county. Most are in the immediate Salisbury area, but rural routes put drivers on many rural roads.

The standing policy has been that when schools are closed there is no meal delivery. That’s worked well during a string of mild winters.

Bruner said the regular corps of volunteers has an average age of 73. “Elderly people delivering food to other elderly people is too dangerous a mix.”

There is a double concern, ability to drive on icy roads and their ability to traverse ice-covered walkways and steps.

Officials decided to break their own policy early Thursday and go ahead and deliver although schools were closed.

“We hadn’t delivered Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. We don’t deliver on weekends. It was five days since their last meal was delivered,” said Bruner, adding, “We decided to get out there and do it.”

Meals on Wheels is looking for younger folks who are more sturdy on their feet and have four-wheel drive vehicles.

Anyone who would like to help should call 633-0352.

Bruner said they hope to get teachers or other school personnel who won’t be working on snow days. They are also looking for recent retirees with four-wheel drive vehicles.

Volunteers generally spend 60 to 90 minutes a day on the deliveries.

Bruner said they are working on a longer range emergency plan, trying to get quality frozen meals that can be supplied to residents in more remote areas. The meals could be cooked in microwaves.

Currently the program gets meals prepared at Catawba College.