Meals on Wheels

Today started with a couple of unique Meals on Wheels deliveries.  We usually spend one Saturday morning each month delivering for 2 routes.  One route typically takes an hour, and combining a couple together takes about 3 hours (factoring in at least one coffee and bathroom stop, of course).  If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, I highly recommend this one, through Volunteers of America.  You can sign up for one route or more on any weekend and most holidays.  Your volunteer coordinator puts together a route of houses and apartments in a close general area, and all the addresses are arranged "in order" so that you finish not far from where you started, if that makes sense.  One address conveniently leads to the next, and all the information you need is provided for you.  Most of the people are at home waiting on you, and many have adorable dogs to love on.  :)

Fresh Market Deliveries - a unique treat!

Usual routes involve one large box of frozen meals.  Because we live in Colorado, we have to use the month of September to plan for winter (!) so our deliveries today included emergency pantry meals for home-bound seniors to use if volunteers are not able to get to their houses due to inclement weather.  Our second route included a fresh market delivery, which we have never done before.  In addition to a box of frozen meals and a box of pantry goods, it includes an enormous bag of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread, milk, yogurt and juice.  It looked very fresh and healthy, and was delivered in a re-usable bag.  Many of the seniors gave us their previous bags to return to Meals on Wheels to be used again. 

I am very impressed with Meals on Wheels and the services they provide.  Their volunteer coordinators are nice and helpful; their volunteer opportunities are used to meet important community needs, and are set up in a streamlined and organized way.  All beneficiaries are home-bound, unable to get out and about easily on their own.  During the last couple of years of Papa's life, this program really helped him and Gama.  Though they were not considered low-income, they were not able to leave the house to go grocery shopping or to buy meals.  Not only did Meals on Wheels provide for them, but the volunteers were extremely nice to my grandparents and continued to drop by, voluntarily, to check on Gama once Papa had died.

That's why I volunteer.  I use one Saturday a month to hope that I'm helping other people as much as some once helped my grandparents.  And loving on other people's animals ain't bad either.  :)