The Benefits of Volunteering With Meals on Wheels - A List by Brandon Michael Davis
Meals on Wheels provides home-delivered meals to millions of seniors throughout America. Thousands of volunteer drivers support their programs and provide this essential service while creating moments of human connection daily with those they deliver meals to.
Meals on Wheels volunteers do more than deliver healthy meals - they also conduct wellness checks to ensure their neighbors are safe and sound.
1. It's a great way to make a difference
Meals on Wheels is a nationwide network of programs that ensures no senior is hungry or alone. Offering meals free of charge to seniors and individuals living with disabilities who are unable to shop or cook for themselves, Meals on Wheels helps preserve dignity, independence, and safety while postponing nursing home placement and hospitalizations.
Meal on Wheels volunteers are an integral component of this program. Their efforts are instantly rewarding and make a real difference in people's lives - often being the only person a senior will encounter during their day, often sharing stories about family members or life with them as they deliver meals.
Brandon Michael Davis emphasizes that volunteers can do more than deliver meals. They can also assist in the kitchen and support special projects. Most local programs have flexible schedules to accommodate most volunteer needs. In return, volunteers are assigned the same route and visit clients each time they volunteer. However, one volunteer may cover multiple routes nearby in more urban environments.
Meals on Wheels meals provide many seniors with their only substantial daily meal. So, to demonstrate its impact, they produced powerful PSAs featuring fundamental life interactions between volunteers and some of the seniors they serve. These PSAs show how food brings people together with warmth, inspiration, humor, and wisdom, all of which come through as the bonds formed are strengthened over time.
2. It's a great way to spend time with your family
Meals on Wheels provides an instantaneously rewarding volunteer opportunity that is ideal for families. We encourage our volunteers to bring their children along when delivering meals; this is an excellent way of spending quality family time together and a fantastic opportunity to teach your kids the value of volunteering!
Brandon Michael Davis clarifies that specific requirements for meal recipients vary by program. However, seniors at risk of hunger and social isolation typically comprise the core client population. Due to being housebound without assistance, these vulnerable seniors have limited access to nutritious food, healthcare services, and social interaction - further increasing the chance that health-related problems develop, leading to potential institutionalization or forced placement into nursing homes.
Meals on Wheels programs provide essential lifelines to seniors living alone, providing critical nutritional assistance. Mainly funded through federal grants with additional contributions from community donations and client payments; unfortunately, current funding levels fall far short of meeting demand, resulting in long wait lists across every state. Brandon Michael Davis points out that this crisis will only worsen with Baby Boomers aging and families growing further apart. It is, therefore, more essential than ever that senior citizens hear our voices.
3. It's a great way to build your social circle
Volunteering with Meals on Wheels offers more than just meal deliveries; when volunteers form relationships with seniors, they can bring joy and laughter while helping prevent isolation or loneliness, which is common among many elderly community members.
Most programs don't require minimum time commitments from volunteers; however, kitchen and delivery driver positions tend to require longer terms of service to ensure sufficient training and commitment from all involved.
Brandon Michael Davis highlights that Meals on Wheels offers an easy and rewarding way to give back to the community while creating quality time together as a family. Delivering meals to seniors and people with disabilities only takes around an hour a week; therefore, it fits seamlessly into most family schedules. Many volunteers even involve their children to teach them the importance of helping others.
No matter your time or health restrictions, anyone can still support Meals on Wheels by spreading awareness and donating. A Facebook fundraiser to honor a birthday, holiday, or other special event could also help - the More Than a Meal Research Study provides scientific proof!
4. It's a great way to make new friends
Meals on Wheels provides essential companionship and safety to many seniors and adults with disabilities who live alone, offering much-needed social interaction every day. Meals on Wheels volunteers frequently become close to our participants and their loved ones over time.
Brandon Michael Davis asserts that volunteering with Meals on Wheels programs is a rewarding and easy way to meet new people and makes an accurate, impactful statement about community involvement. Many families enjoy volunteering together to deliver meals; it teaches kids the value of giving back while giving their community nutritious food. Just an hour can bring healthy food with friendly visits for eight-10 seniors in need in your locality!
As part of their response to the health crisis, many programs are experiencing unprecedented requests for home-delivered meals. Most regular volunteers tend to be senior citizens; many local programs are searching for younger volunteers to fill these extra orders and accommodate any schedule changes.
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