We Deliver Smiles

Diamond Chain Company

You might think a company that's been delivering Meals on Wheels for more than two decades would be a bit tired. Not so, says Sharon Galema, administrative assistant to the president and coordinator of the company's 16 volunteers. What motivates these folks to embark on their weekly southwest-side route delivering to as many as 14 homebound clients is the tremendous feelings of goodwill that come from helping a worthwhile cause.

Diamond Chain Company was founded on Christmas Eve, 1890. Over the years it has manufactured all types of chains, from little bitty ones that power bicycles to great big ones that churn off-shore oil rigs. Diamond chains were on board the Wright brothers' historic first flight in 1903, and were used by the U.S. military for Apache helicopters in Desert Storm.

Galema was one of two original Diamond Chain employees to deliver Meals on Wheels when the company began volunteering in 1983. Today, she is "backup" to a team of drivers that includes the human resources director, vice president of finance and two retirees who drive from Martinsville and Nineveh.

The company's culture of volunteerism began with its former president, the late Jack Milby, whose friendship with MOW board member Fred Lesh led to their participation. Today, in addition to Meals on Wheels, Diamond Chain's corporate "do-gooding" includes United Way, food and disaster drives and its annual "Clothe-a-Child" program where employees donate money and take needy children holiday shopping.

Deliveries typically take no longer than an hour and a half, but Galema remembers a time she accidentally picked up the wrong meals and was gone for several hours. She's delivered in all types of weather, "like the post office," and has even gone delivering on Christmas Eve. "Many of us do this because someday we could be in the same predicament," said Galema. "Those of us who work full time really appreciate having the opportunity to volunteer as part of our jobs."

Thank you, Diamond Chain Company , for being our faithful volunteers!

Diamond Chain Company Volunteers

Judy Addington

Christine Lowder

Maria Black

Cindy Meyer

Mark Bender

Jason Meisberger

Jeff Deaton

Joan Mason

Tom Daseler

Jerry Randich

Sharon Galema

John Schuler

Annette Hunt

Kevin Scheiwe

Jeff Haight

Pat Soult

For further details, please contact us at 317.633.6325, or by e-mail at info@mealsonwheelsindy.org.

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