1980-1990

This period saw the successive openings of more CHEER centers, each with its own local flavor and flair. The mission was clear but sometimes seemed to grow faster than the facilities.
 
In 1980, Madonna L. Perkins, who was the founding CHEER Director of Nutrition, explained that elderly downstate clients often struggled with the lack of transportation. For example, even though the Nemours Foundation offered free dental and optical services, there often was no way for Sussex residents to get to New Castle County. The CHEER buses, which were meant for the delivery of meals, were sometimes used for 12-hour round trips to the clinic. Funding rules varied by county, with some reimbursements coming from DAST (Delaware Authority for Specialized Transportation).
 
“It’s not an easy coordination,” said Mrs. Perkins. “I’m paid under a meals program. That’s a different grant.” With her paid staff of four, Mrs. Perkins oversaw a lean budget and was an early advocate of computers. She used one to keep track of clients and volunteers.
 
In 1981, Jannetta Calloway, head cook for the CHEER program, was profiled in the newspaper. She explained that her team would be preparing 32 oven-roasted turkeys, 160 pounds of peas, 22 gallons of gelatin salad, 66 dozen rolls, and 100 apple pies for Christmas dinner. They worked in a leased kitchen behind the Diamond Motel in Laurel, from which they would send out 800 holiday meals.
 
 In 1984, the director of Sussex County Senior Services, Ted Ressler, wrote to President Ronald Reagan, commending the work of Mrs. Perkins. President Reagan responded with a letter of congratulations to her. “I took it home and framed it,” she said.
 
Mr. Ressler noted the dramatic gains which had been made. His figures showed 26,429 meals served to the elderly in 1974 versus 221,000 meals in 1984, with the cost per meal dropping from $3.09 to $2.07.
 
In 1986, Arlene S. Littleton became the director of CHEER. As the years passed, new services were constantly being added, as membership continued to grow. Mrs. Littleton dedicated herself to meeting the needs of the elderly. “I’d probably do this job for nothing if they didn’t pay me,” she said in 1996. “In fact, when I retire, I am going to volunteer.”
 
In 1989, CHEER partnered with Sussex County Senior Services and the Delaware Department of Transportation to pilot a fixed-route transit system, with CHEER buses making stops Monday through Thursday for $1.00 per week per person.