Meals on Wheels, Indianapolis

We Deliver Smiles

Charles Poindexter

To say that Charles Poindexter has seen the light and shines it down upon others is simply to preface the last 10 years of his life as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. To understand the source of that light, you first have to appreciate the kind of background that produces an individual whose primary ambition is to "give back."

A 1951 graduate of Crispus Attucks High School, Charles went on to work for Kingan & Company (later Hygrade), a meat packing plant once located in the historic "Super Block" area that now includes the IUPUI* campus. In 1955, he served two years in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He went on to work for General Motors, where he "heat treated" transmission parts used to make Abram tanks.

These diverse experiences led to a full and active retirement. Charles loves history, and enjoys traveling, recently spending a month in the Middle East doing everything from riding a camel to cruising the Nile. "Mr. P." also volunteers his time as a tour guide for Crown Hill Cemetery and for the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana where he guides groups on downtown tours on the canal, Indiana Avenue, Ransom Place and other historic districts. He is particularly interested in black history, and participates in reenactments of the life of Civil War chaplain Maj. Garland H. White of the 28th Indiana United States Colored Troops.

In 1995, the year he lost his first wife, Charles nearly died of heart failure. As he dragged himself around the house, out of breath but still tidying up before leaving for the hospital, he decided if he lived, it would be time to give back. The next year he began delivering for Meals on Wheels.

Charles's parents received Meals on Wheels during the 1980s, and the devotion exhibited by volunteers left a lasting impression on him. He recounts the day a volunteer who was attempting to deliver to his parents phoned. Neither Charles nor the volunteer knew they had planned an outing and hadn't cancelled meal delivery. Charles initially resisted the distressed volunteer's efforts to persuade him to drop everything to investigate, but eventually he consented. Even though it turned out his parents were fine, the impassioned pleas of the volunteer made an impact: "I thought her insistence that I check on my parents was precious," Charles said. "That kind of dedication is absolutely beautiful."

Now Charles shovels his long driveway just so he can get out to deliver meals, according to his wife, Dorothea. He gathers the grandkids together to sing carols to the clients on his route, hoping to extend the spirit of volunteerism to them. If there are a thousand points of light, Charles is certainly among them.

Note: Charles Poindexter was the 2006 recipient of the United Way of Central Indiana Minority Outstanding Service Award for Seniors. More

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

Archives
Diamond Chain Company
Charles Poindexter
National Wine & Spirits
Liz Browning
Roche Diagnostics
Servants of Christ Lutheran Church
Safeco Insurance Company
Howard & Mary McKinley
Robert Palmer
Marilyn Carroll
Regions Bank
Ray Hale
Don & Shirley Wendling
Jane & Joan King