Left Hand Laurels - Mike and Becky Fellows

Married for 51 years, Gunbarrel residents Mike and Becky Fellows are partners in life and community service. As a couple, they deliver meals to seniors and those who aren't able to shop for food and prepare meals on their own through the non-profit organization Meals on Wheels Boulder (MOWB).

Lisa Hughes, MOWB manager of volunteer services, said, "Mike and Becky are such great volunteers. They deliver meals for us every week to Gunbarrel and often substitute drive as well. They are very reliable and a pleasure to work with."

Becky began volunteering for MOWB nearly 20 years ago when her employer, Boulder Community Hospital, encouraged its workers to participate in community service. The Director of Cancer Care at the time, Becky initially chose the role of assisting MOWB participants with navigating through the food line and dining room at the Boulder West Senior Center in the Café Classico meal program.

Founded in 1969, MOWB's mission states, "We provide healthy and high-quality meals to people who truly need them. Our clients are able to maintain health longer, age in place in their own homes and enjoy improved quality of life, independence and dignity."

Becky has filled many volunteer positions with MOWB over the years – from helping in the dining room, to cashiering, then properly packing the meals for delivery in order to keep the cold elements, such as salads and desserts, separate from the hot dishes. She started helping drivers load meals into their cars and ultimately, she merged the tasks of packing with taking the meals to her own car, then picking up Mike, and together they'd do a delivery route.

"That all came to a screeching halt when I got sick two years ago and Mike did the route," Becky said. "Then when I got strong enough, I went along for the rides and now I drive." Becky is doing better, but still feels some of the effects of what was diagnosed as an autoimmune disease.

Mike said that providing food to nearby Gunbarrel residents (16 to 18 meals on their shift), the social interaction and occasional assistance, like opening a jar or bringing in a delivery left at the client's door, feels wonderful.

"The thing you notice is that so many of our elderly people become isolated in their homes," Mike said. "Your friends have died, so many are unable to drive...so we at least provide a little contact to those who get meals every day." Checking in on the participants to be sure they're well, particularly during the pandemic, can be immensely helpful.

"We see the same people and that's fun," Becky said.

While COVID-19 has changed some procedures for safety reasons, the program is near and dear to the Fellows' hearts. "Those [participants] you do get to see are very appreciative of the continued service," Mike said.

Doing the deliveries as a team and afterward enjoying lunch together has become a tradition Mike and Becky look forward to.

During their marriage, they lived in Germany, the Philippines, Boston, West Point, and in 1994, they moved from Washington, DC to Gunbarrel. Becky retired from her position at BCH in 2006. Following Mike's retirement in 2008 as an engineer with MWH Constructors, he joined Becky on her MOWB delivery route. They have two sons who live in Colorado with their families.

In addition to delivering meals at least once a week, the couple, both in their early 70's, are involved with other volunteering too. They're drawn to organizations that work on behalf of veterans because for 26 years Mike was a combat engineer in the army, serving during the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War.

Becky is a quilt artist, creating and donating more than 75 patriotic-themed comforters for Quilts of Valor whose mission is "to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor."

Since 2008, Mike has volunteered at the Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum where he's been on the board of directors and served as the president. These days, he runs the "Coffee and Conversation" program, which provides a venue for veterans to talk and create a video presentation about their experiences. Often it's the first time they've spoken about their life in the service.

Mike also gives his time to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, where he teaches fly fishing to wounded soldiers and veterans, helping them heal physically and emotionally during rehabilitation at the Veteran's Hospital.

The Fellows have a long history of other volunteering gigs. Mike served as the treasurer for the Longmont Astronomical Society for 10 years and they've also cooked and served meals for area homeless at overflow shelter locations.

"They are very committed and always have a smile on their face...behind a mask at the moment," Hughes said.

For more information on volunteering or participating in Meals on Wheels Boulder and Meals on Wheels Longmont, visit http://www.mowboulder.org or http://www.longmontmeals.org.