Volunteering With Meals on Wheels

A great way to get involved with your local community and support vulnerable members is to volunteer to help with meals on wheels. This service provides healthy meals for those who may not otherwise enjoy a properly cooked meal. You can volunteer for just a couple of hours a week or for longer if you wish. You will join a team that is supporting the elderly and others in your local community.

Who can volunteer?

Anyone over the age of 18 can volunteer to help out with the service. Contact your local authority or Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) as these are the main providers of meals on wheels services. If you have a driving licence you will be especially welcome as drivers are in particular demand. A vehicle may be provided but it is more usual for you to use your own vehicle.

Who uses the service?

Another valuable asset could be cookery skills but it is most important that you are calm, patient and able to get along with a wide range of people. In addition to the elderly other users of meals on wheels services include disabled people, people with learning difficulties and people in recovery from accidents or hospital treatment. You will gain the satisfaction of making a difference to their day by providing them with a nutritious meal. You may also be their only visitor that day and so can provide companionship as well which may be every bit as much valued as the food.

How does the service work?

Food is usually prepared at a central point and you will go there to collect it. This may be a local school or similar public establishment. Meals may be hot or frozen for those who are able to warm meals up. Individuals will have signed agreements with their local authority or other service provider and this will cover how often they receive a meal and whether the meal is heated or frozen. In many cases hot meals are only provided for those who are housebound and unable to operate an oven to heat a meal for themselves.

In most cases there is a nominal charge for the meals and part of your role as a volunteer could be to collect such payments. Meals cater for a wide variety of tastes and dietary requirements and there will usually be options including gluten-free, vegetarian and halal or other options to meet specific religious requirements.

Is there more to the role?

As you are dealing with some of your community’s most vulnerable members an important part of your role will be to pass the time of day with each client and to listen to see whether they have any personal worries or concerns. If you take on the role regularly then you will develop a relationship with the people you visit. This could be one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering with meals on wheels.

Deliveries may vary from two or three times a week to seven days a week depending on availability and need. You should be able to volunteer for as many or as few days as is convenient provided you can commit to a regular time slot. With such a vital service it is important to be reliable to ensure that vulnerable members of community receive the nutrition they need.