Volunteer with Meals on Wheels and help locals age safely in their own home
Six hundred sixty-two.
That is the average number of meals being made each weekday at Edmonton Meals on Wheels (EMOW).
A lot goes into ensuring the quality of these meals and timeliness of each meal delivery. The non-profit agency relies on a large group of dedicated volunteers to make this happen.
On any given day you can find dozens of them passing through the EMOW doors. These volunteers are a diverse group of individuals, all with one common goal: to support our isolated neighbours and extend their independence and health as they age.
To do this, the team assists in preparing and packaging meals, delivering both meals and groceries, and grocery shopping for homebound clients.
Through the help of their volunteers, EMOW ensures each client who receives a meal is also greeted with a friendly smile and a pleasant conversation. These visits are where volunteers can have the greatest impact on those they serve. EMOW clients are usually ready and waiting for their meal, but are more excited about the conversation that comes along with their food. And the volunteers are just as happy to chat. For a lot of clients, this is the only person that they will see all day.
According to a recent inhouse survey, 97 per cent of EMOW clients look forward to these visits. This is why EMOW is so dependent on a large roster of people who donate their time, and welcome any assistance they can get. However the clients aren’t the only ones who benefit from this service.
Many of the volunteers credit their social circle to the hours put in at the organization. Not only are they talking about the clients with whom they’ve formed bonds, but the other volunteers as well. People who help out in the kitchen often rave about their experience. They enjoy being a part of a team that provides vital nutrition for so many.
One kitchen volunteer, Rebecca, says, “There is just no better feeling in the world knowing that you helped spread a little sunshine on someone’s life!”
Similar statements are echoed by many volunteer delivery drivers.
“It is a minimal amount of time put in, but a very rewarding experience,” says Gord, a regular EMOW driver, who delivers meals to clients in north Edmonton. Gord’s sense of accomplishment is a common feeling throughout those that help out at EMOW.
From students to seniors, EMOW has shifts ready and available for all. Volunteer roles in the kitchen and delivering meals are available weekdays during the day. Evening and weekend shifts are available for grocery shoppers. Currently, the agency is most in need of kitchen volunteers to help with meal preparation between 12-3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and volunteer delivery drivers to help out on Fridays during the day.
Volunteer shifts are available anywhere from multiple shifts per week, to a seasonal commitment. To find out more about volunteering at Edmonton Meals on Wheels, visit their website at www. mealsonwheelsedmonton.org or call 780-429-2020.