Meals on Wheels
Volunteers
Become a Meals on Wheels Volunteer Near You
Meals on Wheels volunteers in Northwestern Vermont provide much more than a meal. The three largest threats facing older adults are hunger, isolation, and loss of independence. The nutritious meal, safety check, and friendly visit provided by Meals on Wheels are all important parts of making a difference in the lives of seniors across Northwestern Vermont.
There are many opportunities for Meals on Wheels volunteer work, including meal preparation, packaging, or, most commonly, delivering meals to recipients. The commitment is usually flexible, accommodating your schedule, and the sense of fulfillment derived from offering a warm meal and companionship to those in need is immeasurable.
Driving for Meals on Wheels
Being a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels in Vermont is a fulfilling role that involves delivering nutritious meals to older adults in need. Your responsibilities will include collecting pre-packaged meals from the designated pick-up location and ensuring timely and safe delivery to the designated recipients’ homes. This role not only involves providing nourishment, but also offers companionship and a friendly face, as volunteers often become a familiar and trusted presence in the lives of those they serve. When needed, volunteer drivers may also perform a safety check to ensure that the meal recipient is safe and well.
Types of Meals on Wheels Volunteers
There are several ways to contribute your time as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. You may choose just one, or any combination of the three below based upon your availability.
Meals on Wheels Volunteer Application
Ready to volunteer for a Meals on Wheels route near you? The Meals on Wheels application process is simple. You can start by filling out a Volunteer Request form on the Age Well Website, or by calling our Volunteer Team at 802-662-5249.
Hear From a Meals on Wheels Volunteer
Age Well’s Meals on Wheels volunteers have the opportunity to impact the lives of older adults in northwestern Vermont by offering a friendly visit and nutritious meal delivery.
Volunteer Cara Lovejoy explains why she loves being an Age Well Meals on Wheels volunteer.
I’ve been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for a little over three years. I’ve learned so much about this program and the help it brings to people with food insecurities. There are people out there in need. I’m very fortunate that I’m not. I think that the Meals on Wheels volunteer bringing lunch may be the only other human contact that a lot of our clients have on a daily basis. So it’s not just bringing the meals, we’re bringing socialization. We’re bringing a warm smile. We’re bringing another person saying “Hi, how are you today?” and that’s also important for all of us. To be able to do that makes me feel that I’m doing such a big service for very little effort on my part.
Related Resources
FAQs About the Senior Companion Program
Meals on Wheel Eligibility Guidelines
Meals on Wheels Client Welcome Packet
Safety Checks
FAQ’s
Do you have a question about volunteering for Meals on Wheels that wasn’t answered here? Contact the Helpline with any additional questions!
If you’re interested in becoming a Meals on Wheel Volunteer, thank you! Volunteer drivers are currently needed across the four counties in Vermont that Age Well serves, including Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties.
To become a volunteer, you must first fill out our application form or contact the Age Well Volunteer team at 802-662-5249 or email: [email protected].
If you are an On-Call volunteer, you will be expected to deliver any route in your locale on the day that you are scheduled, as it is unpredictable which route might become open on a given day. You will receive a call from us anywhere from 48-hours before, up until the morning of the day of your assignment. If you do not hear from us within the delivery window in your locale, you can assume you are not needed to deliver.
- On-Call volunteers have the flexibility to sign up for whatever day(s) work for their schedule.
- All volunteers are scheduled at least 2x month regardless of their status as On-Call, Regular, or Substitute volunteer.
Substitute volunteers differ from On Call volunteers in that they commit to delivering a specific route that is already open in advance. Substitute volunteers fill in on days when we have a route open. You can fill in as a sub by looking and responding to our “openings” emails, and/or signing up online using our online portal, Better Impact, at myimpactpage.com. If you need help logging in, please contact the Meals on Wheels Volunteer Coordinators at [email protected] or 802-662-5279.
- Substitute volunteers have the flexibility to sign up for whatever day(s) work for their schedule.
- All volunteers are scheduled at least 2x month regardless of their status as On-Call, Regular, or Substitute volunteer.
In Northwestern Vermont, Volunteers deliver meals Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. For any scheduling concerns, please contact Age Well Volunteer team at 802-662-5249 or email: [email protected].
If an individual’s door is locked and no one comes to the door (after waiting an appropriate amount of time), perform the following steps:
• Place a green door hanger on the knob and proceed to the next delivery. Contact Age Well and let us know who did not receive their meal.
• If you are concerned about the wellbeing of the individual, contact Age Well immediately so we can reach out to an emergency contact. If unsuccessful in reaching the contact, we will call the local police. Please make note of any relevant details (e.g. car in driveway, lights on, etc.).
If you have undelivered meals from your route, do not return the meals to the pickup site. Offer the meal to the next Meals on Wheels recipient on your route. If they ask whether they have to pay for it, say, “No, this is an extra meal.”
Contact Us
Do you have questions about becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer? Call the Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 and speak to one of our friendly, professional team members.