Meals on Wheels volunteers needed

The Lake County Council on Aging announced that its “Meals on Wheels” program is in need of volunteer drivers to deliver meals and volunteers to assist in the kitchen packing meals.

Officials 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 will increase the need for volunteers on weekdays, according to a news release.

Meals on Wheels volunteers are needed at all five locations — Madison, Painesville, Mentor, Wickliffe and Willowick.

Every weekday, kitchen volunteers are needed for three to four hours in the morning, starting at 7:30 or 8 a.m. Volunteer drivers deliver lunchtime meals to homebound seniors between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

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 Council on Aging CEO Joe Tomsick in the release. “The success of the program relies solely on the number of volunteers we have to provide this much needed service for our aging population.”

An important benefit of this home-delivery program is the opportunity for social interaction between the volunteers and the meal recipients, the release stated. Social isolation is a significant concern for seniors living on their own, and 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.”