Meals on Wheels, Indianapolis

We Deliver Smiles

J.D. Gould Company, Inc.

The remote-controlled Solenoid Valves they manufacture may help light up America’s most famous fountains, but J.D. Gould Company also lights up the faces of Meals on Wheels clients across Indianapolis.

Jack Gould, owner and president of the family business that spans three generations, likes his employees to have the opportunity to “give back” to the community. Located literally “on the other side of the tracks” in a heavily industrialized part of town, there’s no immediate neighborhood on which they can focus their philanthropic efforts. Delivering meals allows the employees to be involved in their community and take a much needed break away from the shop.

Delivery to their Community East route every week also gives Gould’s 12 volunteers some one-on-one time with the boss and other co-workers. “Volunteering gives our employees a feeling of self-worth, and it’s good for morale” said Gould. “We have enough staff that we can spread it out. It’s a nice way for employees to interact with one another and get to know each other better.”

Andrea Mead, the company’s office manager and volunteer coordinator added that the volunteers, who deliver meals on a rotating schedule with different partners each week, are allowed time for lunch and often bring food back for the rest of the staff. They’re also given use of the company truck for making deliveries, so they don’t incur their own transportation expenses.

The company’s valve line ranges in size from 1/8” to a 3” pipe size that weighs 36 pounds. It takes 21 valves working in-synch through a computer program with colored lights to create the illusion of an erupting volcano at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.

The company was founded in 1951 by Jack Gould’s father and grandfather, both J.D. Goulds. Globalization and the rising price of copper have them feeling the competition, but Gould has many loyal customers including Indiana auto makers, Eli Lilly & Co. and many more national and international accounts. Of Gould’s 16 employees who start work each day at 6:00 A.M., three-fourths work the rotating meal delivery schedule. They began delivering meals in 1993.

“I enjoy doing it,” said Mead, adding, “It’s a great thing to do. Sometimes the clients are so sad. But they really like to see us.”

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