Be a Volunteer The delivery of meals is accomplished by a core of 800 volunteers from the Spokane community. Many are scheduled from local churches and businesses. These people not only volunteer their time, but also donate their vehicles and gas costs. This donation of labor, equipment, and supplies allows Mid-City to keep our overhead low. By the end of 2009, these volunteers delivered about 80,500 meals which includes liquid food supplements, frozen meals, and hot lunches.
Meals on Wheels Spokane has been serving meals since 1963 thanks to many volunteers that are willing to support their community. In fact, without all our amazing volunteers, our program would not exist. Volunteers provide the warm and loving contact that our seniors need to be able to maintain independent in their own homes. We are always looking for more volunteers. If you think you would be available to assist us, please Call:Heidi Mott at 509-456-0397.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please download, complete and submit the application form. Download Volunteer Application Form
If you would like us to contact you regarding opportunities:
Send us an email with your
Name, and Phone Number and area of interest to: volunteer@mowspokane.org
Meals on Wheels Spokane does have a few requirements for our volunteers;
Must be able to pass a background check
Provide your own transportation
Be available 1 and half hours each volunteer day
Be able to follow directions
Enjoy working with a wide variety of people
Be able to respect each client’s right to privacy and confidentiality
Have a sincere commitment to the success of Meals on Wheels Spokane
Volunteer Opportunities:
Regular Delivery Driver
We are seeking volunteers who are able and willing to be regular meals delivery drivers. Drivers would be assigned to regular weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly routes. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday from about 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and there is approximately 8 to 12 stops per route.
Substitute Delivery Driver
We are in need of people who are willing to take meals out to our seniors on short notice or when we have a regular driver who is unavailable. This is a great opportunity for people who are in need of more flexibility but still want to donate their time. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday from about 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and there is approximately 8 to 12 stops per route.
Cooler Delivery Driver
Meals on Wheels Spokane works closely with AVISTA, and many of their employees volunteer with us regularly on their lunch breaks. In order for them to do so, we are in need of volunteers that are willing to take the containers of food to AVISTA daily. Delivery to AVISTA needs to be picked up at our office at 9:30 a.m. It takes about half an hour and I am looking for people who are available Monday through Friday and are willing to deliver weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
Regular Frozen Deliveries
Many of our clients receive frozen meals once a month to supply them with food for the weekends. We are looking for volunteers that would be willing to deliver these on a regular basis every Tuesday morning. Deliveries should take about an hour and a half.
Pet Food Deliveries
Meals on Wheels Spokane has partnered with local agencies that are providing pet food for homebound individuals. We found that many of our seniors did not have enough money to buy pet food each month. It was a common problem that clients were sharing their one nutritional daily meal with their companions and not getting enough food themselves. We are now making deliveries to those individuals on the first and third Saturday of the month. Pick up time is at 8:30 a.m. and there is about 5 stops on each route.
Special Events Driver
Volunteer to drive during our three special event fundraisers! We deliver pre-ordered boxed lunches
twice a year (October and May) and also deliver pre-ordered boxed valentines filled with delicious
goodies. We need drivers that would be willing to drop off those orders. Time commitment is about 2 hours three times a year.
Current Volunteers
The goal of this program is to help the homebound elderly and disabled maintain a sense of independence and dignity while remaining in their own homes longer. Thank you for helping us to achieve this goal.
You will be delivering the main meal of the day to seniors and disabled adults within the community, those that don’t drive and aren’t able to leave their home without assistance. Most are lacking support of family and have difficulty with meal preparation. You are helping those individuals who are isolated and need nutritional support the most.
Policies and Procedures for current volunteers:
Pick Up and Delivery Instructions
Hot meals are picked up in three locations, our Downtown office at 1222 W. 2nd, Avista at 1411 E. Mission, or North Hill Christian Church at 4620 N. Post. Check with the office for your specific pick up time. Each route takes less than 1 ½ hours total with a few minutes to spend with each client.
Meals can be delivered by individuals or people who are paired up, depending on individual preference.
Please sign the volunteer sheet when you arrive at your pick up site.
Make sure to pick up the paperwork that contains the information about the route you will be delivering that day. This paperwork contains the name of each client on your route, addresses, directions and any other special instructions you need to know.
Maps are available by request so feel free to ask us, we are more than happy to provide them.
Changes occur daily on the routes, so make sure to look over the information each time.
Volunteers will be picking up both a hot bag and a cooler for each route, please make sure that the route you are doing matches the containers you are taking.
Before leaving the pick-up site, please make sure that your containers has the correct number of meals and milk/juices. This will help ensure that the meals are delivered promptly and smoothly. Make sure to notify the office if the count is off.
While delivering, please make sure that your vehicle has a Meals on Wheels Volunteer sign displayed.
Be aware that older people often have sensory deficits, i.e., hearing loss, vision dimming, slowed ambulatory time, so please allow plenty of time for the recipient to answer the door. Most are familiar with the routine and will be waiting for your arrival with place mat and table service ready!
There are times when we will be sending out paperwork or other items in addition to the meals. Please give to the appropriate person or let the staff know if you are unable to.
If you have any extra items, please give them away to someone on your route. If they are brought back to the office, we have to throw them away.
Clients at times may give you checks or paperwork to return to the office with. If you are comfortable with it, we encourage you to do so.
When you are done delivering, please return the containers to your pick up location.
Appropriate Clothing
Remember that deliveries take place in all types of weather. Make sure to dress according to the weather and wear appropriate footwear.
If Someone Is Not Home
If a client does not answer the door, please do not leave the meal unless they have a cooler with ice in it. Don’t forget to leave a “we missed you” tag on the door. If there are any special instructions on the route sheet or the door, please follow them.
Make sure to notify the Meals on Wheels staff if someone is not home. We have emergency contact information on everyone and want to make sure that someone is checking on them to make sure they are okay.
Concern of clients
If you come across any clients that you are concerned about their safety or health make sure to notify the office. Meals on Wheels does follows up on these reports.
Volunteer Safety
If you ever encounter an unsafe situation, we do not want you make the delivery. We encourage you to use your judgment while doing a route to determine if it is safe. Make sure to let the staff know if you ever encounter a situation like this.
Absences
We ask that when you receive your schedule that you mark the dates for delivery for the whole year on your calendar. If you have any conflict, please notify the coordinator immediately.
We do understand that unexpected events do sometimes happen and there are some days when you will be unable to deliver your route. As soon as you know of times when you will be unavailable, please let the Volunteer Coordinator know so that we can make other arrangements.
Client Emergencies
If you ever arrive and find a client in need of immediate medical attention, call 911 Immediately! Do not move the person. Stay with the client until help arrives, then make sure to call the Meals on Wheels and report it.
Client Confidentiality
Volunteers must not reveal any clients personal information to anyone outside of the Meals on Wheels staff. This is very important as all our clients and volunteers have a right to confidentiality.
Suggestions If you have any suggestions for improving our program, please let us know. In Particular, if our route directions are incorrect or there is an easier way of doing the route, please contact us. We welcome any suggestions!
Meals on Wheels Spokane has been serving meals since 1963 thanks to many volunteers that are willing to support their community. In fact, without all our amazing volunteers, our program would not exist. Volunteers provide the warm and loving contact that our seniors need to be able to maintain independent in their own homes. We are always looking for more volunteers. If you think you would be available to assist us, please