By Donald Gilpin

Venetta Ellerbe

Venetta Ellerbe, an experienced leader of nonprofits, has, as she said in an April 11 phone conversation, “hit the ground running” in her first month on the job as the new CEO of Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC).

With a recent surge in demand for the nutritious meals and sociable engagement the MOWMC delivers — 95,000 meals for nearly 600 participants across Mercer County last year — Ellerbe has expressed her determination to “expand our reach, deepen our partnerships, and ensure that every person who needs our services can count on us.”

In a recent press release, MOWMC Board Chair David Dafilou announced the board’s unanimous selection of Ellerbe to lead the growing organization. “She brings more than 20 years of experience within New Jersey’s nonprofit sector, in roles that highlighted her skills in leadership, operations management, fundraising, and strategic planning,” he said.

He continued, “As MOWMC works to meet the growing demand for our services, the board is confident that Venetta’s leadership will bring increased stability, innovation, and compassion to our mission.”

A longtime resident of Somerset, Ellerbe has recently served as Interim CEO and COO at Several Sources Shelters in North Jersey, director of major gifts at Ramapo College, director of development at Unified Vailsburg Services Organization, and director of special events and annual giving at Middlesex County College Foundation. She has also been an instructor at Union County College and holds a BA from Ramapo and a master of public service leadership in nonprofit management from Thomas Edison State University.

Ellerbe noted that her experience in the nonprofit sector will be serving her well at MOWMC. “My area of expertise has been working with the most vulnerable populations and focusing on delivering services, concentrating on day-to-day logistics, overseeing participants, and making sure that we are hitting our fundraising goals.”

She went on to discuss some of the challenges that MOWMC is facing in the current climate of increasing demand and federal funding cuts. “Most participants are over 60, and they often cannot prepare meals for themselves,” she said. “Some live with family members, but often because of the rising cost of food those family members might not be able to pay for meals. They may only be able to check in occasionally on their relatives.”

Ellerbe went on, “MOWMC provides prepared and cooked meals that can be refrigerated and heated up for the next day or later that same day. The meals are dietarily restricted for those who need that. We have a dietician who oversees all of the meal plans for all participants.”

Ellerbe explained that many of the participants live alone and feel isolated at times. “‘So when we are delivering meals, the volunteers are having these interactions with them that help their mental health, foster community engagement, and promote empathy and understanding across generations.”

Mark Pepper of Princeton Junction has been volunteering with MOWMC since February 2024, delivering meals to homes in Trenton on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. “I think this is community service at its purest,” he said. “It’s people helping people. The people that we help are wonderful. Everyone is in it for pretty much the same reason. They want to give back to the community. They want to help people who are less fortunate than themselves.”

On his 10 to 15 deliveries each day, Pepper brings along his dog “Reese’s.” (He checks with participants in advance to make sure they like dogs.) He described one of the participants on his list who lives in a Trenton apartment complex.

“She is always very sweet, and she absolutely loves my dog,” he said. “She’s elderly, not too mobile. She usually comes to the door in a wheelchair. She’s always telling me to be careful or to stay warm because it’s cold out. She’s just as concerned about me as I am about her. So many people are so grateful. And they love seeing my dog, and Reese’s loves seeing them.”

Pepper, who went to medical school and worked for many years in the pharmaceutical industry, likes being able to check in with his clients twice a week. “Some people are incapacitated,” he said. “This program helps them stay in their homes, which I think is very important, rather than move to another facility. It’s good to have these kinds of services for people. And I like getting out into the community. It makes me feel good that I’m helping people.”

Manny Noggoh, who lives in Trenton, has been delivering meals to MOWMC participants on Thursdays since 2015. Each Thursday morning he picks up 10 to 12 meals at Rider University, where they have been prepared and packed in coolers for cold food, warmers for hot food. “I grab my food and I get a list of the people to deliver to, and then we take off.” He’s the driver, and he teams up with a woman who has been working with MOWMC for more than 25 years. “It’s a nice feeling to see the same faces every week,” said Noggoh. “We establish a relationship with them. And we do look at them to make sure everything is OK, and if we see anything unusual we can call the office or get in touch with their next of kin.”

He added, “I’m not very religious, but I believe in helping others when I can, as others have helped me throughout my life. I like interacting with people. It’s a nice feeling to see them every week and see how they’re doing.”

Noggoh emphasized that more people should volunteer with MOWMC. “We drive our own cars and pay for our own insurance and gas, but it’s worth it,” he said.

MOWMC has about 200 active volunteers, but with increasing demand and diminished funding, “now, more than ever, we need your help to maintain our programs and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our seniors,” the MOWMC website states.

Visit mealsonwheelsmercer.org to learn more about opportunities to donate and volunteer.