The Lake County Council on Aging’s “Meals on Wheels” program is in need of volunteer drivers to deliver meals and volunteers to assist in the kitchen packing meals. They are looking for volunteers who can commit to deliver meals or help in the kitchen at least one day per week. As they anticipate senior centers re-opening, the need for volunteers on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday increases. Meals on Wheels volunteers are needed at all five locations; Madison, Painesville, Mentor, Wickliffe and Willowick.
Every weekday, kitchen volunteers are needed for 3 to 4 hours in the morning starting at 7:30am or 8:00 am. Volunteer drivers deliver lunchtime meals to homebound seniors between 10:30am and 12:30pm. Last year, volunteers helped deliver over 195,000 meals to these older residents in need, throughout Lake County.
“The demand for Meals on Wheels service has been increasing each year resulting in this current critical need for volunteers,” said Joe Tomsick, Chief Executive Officer of the Lake County Council on Aging. “The success of the program relies solely on the number of volunteers we have to provide this much needed service for our aging population.”
The home delivered meal program is a great opportunity to volunteer as an individual or duo, with a family member or a friend, and meet new people within the community. Delivering meals also provides an opportunity for local businesses, community groups and churches to adopt a route and schedule group members to deliver on that day each week.
An important benefit of this home-delivery program is the opportunity for social interaction between the volunteers and the meal recipients. Social isolation is a significant concern for seniors living on their own. The daily visits by Meals on Wheels volunteers includes not just a meal, but a chance for a friendly smile, a little upbeat conversation and a face-to-face visit that serves as a “wellness check.”
Please call Ann Marie Armaro the Council on Aging at 440-205-8111, ext. 228 or email aarmaro@lccoa.org for more information.