The 100 home bound citizens who receive life-sustaining meals and a cheerful hello from their Meals on Wheels driver each day can rest assured that although the organization’s beloved director, Mary Pataky, has retired, her replacement is just as capable and conscientious.

Pataky, who decided to call it quits in September due to health reasons, had been director of Meals on Wheels since 2007.

She started in 1993 as an assistant cook before moving up to volunteer coordinator and assistant director.

When she decided to exit the position, the head cook of two years, Terri Tirk, was tapped to step up to the director’s desk.

Tirk is currently being trained for the job, which she accepted at the beginning of October.

Tirk started her job as head cook in 2021 after working in food service at St. Wendelin Catholic School in Summit Township.

The new head cook who replaces Tirk is Jan Lenzen, who has a background in the food service industry.

As head cook at Meals on Wheels, Tirk did not interact with drivers or clients, and rarely with volunteers.

In her new job, she must juggle the entire show every day to get 100 hot meals to clients within a 8- to 10-mile radius of downtown Butler.

“You have to be a people person,” Tirk said.

Tirk said she plans to model Pataky’s management style, which was unflappable.

“I feel God puts people in your life for a reason,” Tirk said of her predecessor. “I look up to Mary because she is very levelheaded, so she could handle any situation.”

She said instead of panicking if she was short a driver or a new client needed to be added or dropped at the last minute, Pataky always said “as long as all the clients get their meals every day,” Tirk said.

Tirk also appreciates her four fellow employees and legion of more than 200 volunteers who make Butler Meals on Wheels possible.

“This is unlike any other job I’ve ever had,” she said. “Everyone is so friendly and helpful, and I think it’s because they want to be here.”

But Tirk is reticent to talk about herself after Pataky’s three decades of service to Butler’s medically home bound residents.

Pataky said she does miss her job, which she thinks about every hour of every day.

She did not expect health issues to necessitate her retirement, but said she is at peace with it.

“I would still be there today if I could,” Pataky said. “It’s my home away from home. It’s family, and you can never replace that.”

She misses walking into the space Meals on Wheels rents at St. Peter Anglican Church on West Jefferson Street, where she felt the warmth and caring of the employees and volunteers.

“I think we got more out of it than (the clients) did,” Pataky said.

She said all the employees and volunteers had one thing in common: the desire to help others who are less fortunate.

“I would like to thank everyone in Butler for all the support they’ve given me and the program over the years,” Pataky said. “My heart is full.”

She encourages everyone involved in Meals on Wheels to put their faith in Tirk, as she has.

“Terri is probably the most patient, easygoing person I’ve ever met, and you need that for this position because things change by the minute,” Pataky said.

She said Tirk’s calm personality will carry her through.

“You can’t get flustered, and I really feel Terri is the right person for that position,” Pataky said. “She is very kind and she knows the program from working there for a couple years.”

Kathleen Rutkoski, the Friday supervisor at Butler Meals on Wheels, agrees Tirk will do well in the top position.

“Terri brought a bright light to our kitchen when she came here as a cook,” she said.

Still, Rutkoski will miss Pataky, who is a legend among employees and volunteers.

“Mary was the heart and soul of this program,” she said. “She made everyone feel welcomed and appreciated.”

Tirk said all 100 clients receive a hot meal at the noon hour Monday through Friday, and about 40 of those clients also get a light meal for the evening that includes a sandwich, snack and dessert.

Butler Meals on Wheels does use a large food purveyor, but tries to buy local as much as possible.

For example, many meals are prepared using Slater’s Meats of Karns City, and Marburger Dairy products are always on the menu.

“We want to help support local businesses because we have local people supporting us,” Tirk said.

She said many churches in Butler take turns donating baked goods prepared by their members.

Clients must be medically home bound, unable to drive and experience difficulty cooking.

Tirk said the phone at Meals on Wheels is always ringing, with residents asking if volunteers are needed.

She said some volunteers are part-time, some are available on an on-call basis, and others appear at the church several times per week to help out.

“Most places don’t have enough volunteers,” Tirk said. “Our phone rings all the time.”

She said many clients’ only human contact each day are their Meals on Wheels drivers, who ensure each meal recipient is OK when they deliver.

Tirk said she sees her new job as a long-term gig.

“I want to continue as Mary would, serving our clients and making sure their needs are taken care of,” she said.

To donate, send a check to Butler Meals on Wheels, 218 E. Jefferson St., Butler, Pa. 16001.