Ted and Joan DuBois, of South Whitehall Township, were a duo of 22 Lehigh County residents and one group of about 70 people honored as part of the Lehigh County Aging and Adult Service’s 21st annual tribute to Unsung Heroes.

This tribute honors older adults in the Lehigh Valley who have displayed exceptional generosity with their time and talents to enrich the lives of others in the community.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, honorees received certificates of recognition, flowers, a pin and yard sign delivered to their homes.

According to their tribute:

“For over 22 years, Ted and Joan DuBois have quietly and selflessly delivered meals to seniors and people with disabilities in Lehigh County.

“As valued volunteers at Meals on Wheels, their dedication and determination have improved the lives of hundreds of people.

“Their accomplishments have gone unrecognized because they prefer to avoid the spotlight, focusing instead on what they can do to help others.

“This nomination allows us to express our gratitude for all they have done while providing long overdue recognition.

“Although Meals on Wheels first welcomed Ted and Joan as volunteers in 1998, their teamwork has deeper roots.

“They married in 1954, raising two sons and two daughters, a family that has grown to include six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

“This June 7, they celebrated 67 years of marriage.

“This date marks more than one special event though: on that day in 1954, Ted received his commission as an ensign in the Navy at 9 a.m., he and Joan both graduated from Penn State at 11 a.m., and they were married at 2 p.m.

“Even then, they got more done in a day than most people would dream of!

“Their commitment to each other and to their family is mirrored in their dedication to helping others, and nowhere is that more evident than in their work at Meals on Wheels.

“Volunteering every Wednesday and Friday on their regular routes, they have become familiar faces and good friends to the clients they serve.

“The impact they have on these clients is twofold: delivering nutritious food while simultaneously providing a vital connection to the outside world, a connection that proved more essential than ever during COVID.

“With so many volunteers unable or unwilling to continue delivering during the height of the pandemic, Ted and Joan stood out for never canceling or missing a shift.

“Often the only people their clients saw, they helped counteract the isolation and fear so many were feeling and provided an important sense of continuity in a world that had turned upside down.

“Their impact can also be measured in more tangible ways.

“In the last three years alone, they have volunteered over 1,000 hours and driven 7,500 miles to reach the people who depend on Meals on Wheels.

“This adds up to more than 6,300 home-delivered meals!

“Over 90 percent of clients report that these meals allow them to remain in their own homes, underscoring the importance of Ted and Joan’s service.

“This service can also extend beyond food deliveries, as in the case of a bed bound client who struggled to communicate his need for assistance.

“Unable to speak, he drew a picture to indicate he had lost his TV connection and needed the device to be unplugged and reinstalled.

“While it took only a few minutes for Ted to take care of this request, the client’s gratitude reflected the importance to him of this seemingly simple act.

“Ted and Joan have been carrying out such acts of kindness at Meals on Wheels for over 22 years. At 89 and 88, they demonstrate the value of volunteering in remaining active and engaged in the community.

“In their own words, they feel they receive as much as they give: ‘We get a lot out of volunteering and benefit from being out and assisting in the community.’

“We owe a debt of gratitude to them for their ongoing support and commitment.

“With humility, kindness, and compassion, this remarkable couple has improved the lives of countless people without fanfare or special attention.

“Their contributions have not gone unnoticed, however, and we are proud to recognize them as Unsung Heroes.”