When you volunteer your time with a local provider, you will have the opportunity to deliver nutritious meals and moments of connection, care and smiles to seniors who are homebound, isolated and in need of your care. It’s a meaningful way to make a difference in your community.

The most common volunteer job is delivering meals and moments of connection to seniors at their homes. Most typically, this involves picking up meals at a central location and delivering them along a predetermined route. Other common volunteer opportunities include meal preparation, client check-ins, administrative support, special events support and fundraising.

Your local Meals on Wheels provider will set up a volunteer schedule that works with yours. Whether it’s once a week, once a month or as needed, just mention your preferences when you connect with your local provider.

Generally, volunteer opportunities fit within a lunch break of up to an hour and a half, but specifics vary by local provider.

Yes. Most local Meals on Wheels providers need volunteers to fill a number of roles that can be performed outside of the lunch hour. Please check in with your local provider to see what is available in your area.

Volunteers are expected to deliver the meal and generally check in with the clients through a friendly greeting or brief conversation. You are not expected to stay with the client for the meal.

Fill out the signup form above, and we’ll share contact information for a local Meals on Wheels provider in your area. From there, you will need to give them a call and they will answer any questions you might have.

Groups are very welcome. Please mention your interest in volunteering as a group when speaking to your local provider.

Yes. Companies or organizations interested in creating group volunteer opportunities in multiple cities can express interest by sending an email to volunteer@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

Yes. While the vetting process for volunteers varies by location, all providers are invested in the safety of their clients. You may be asked to undergo a background check process prior to volunteering.

In most locations, volunteers who deliver meals will drive their own cars. However, in some urban settings, delivery routes can be covered on foot or by using mass transit. Please ask your local Meals on Wheels provider about transportation needs when you are signing up to volunteer.

Typically, recurring volunteers can sign up for a set schedule and delivery route, therefore allowing you to visit the same seniors on a regular basis. However, there is often a need to fill in open volunteer slots or to volunteer on different schedules, which could result in serving different clients on different days.

That largely depends on the distance between deliveries. Volunteers in more rural settings typically see fewer clients in a single volunteer shift, while those in urban areas can visit quickly with multiple clients living in close proximity to each other.

Schedules are typically flexible with appropriate notice. Once you’re connected with your local Meals on Wheels provider, you’ll be able to work directly with them to manage your volunteer schedule.