Carole McDermott, Board President of Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh, received AARP’s highest state volunteer honor, the 2024 AARP New York Andrus Award for Community Service, on February 13. Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104) nominated her for the award, in recognition of her decades-long work as a volunteer.

Meals on Wheels is a nationwide program that ensures homebound people receive daily meals. The Newburgh program, where McDermott has been Board President for 15 years, delivers 100 meals a day. She also previously served on the Board of Directors for New York State Meals on Wheels.

Jacobson praised McDermott for committing to the organization after a long career in banking and said that choosing her for the award was “probably one of the easiest things I’ve ever done.”

“Carole put her banking experience and time to use helping so many people, putting in countless hours at no cost to the organization. It is people like Carole that make places communities,” said Jacobson.

“I’m very familiar with Meals on Wheels because after my father died, my mother was living alone,” Jacobson said. “I was a young attorney in my 20s, and I was running my own practice. I couldn’t always get out of work to visit by six, so it was so important that Meals on Wheels was there. It was not only there for food, but more importantly, every day there was somebody that was going to come to the house. It was a chance for her to speak to a person, before I was able to call or visit.”

“Carole embodies the spirit of a true humanitarian, dedicated to serving others,” said Jennifer Verdin, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh. “Her passion and determination inspire us all, and her contributions are invaluable to our agency and the community that we serve.”

The Andrus Award is named for AARP Founder Ethel Percy Andrus.