There are so many benefits to volunteering that many volunteers feel they are getting as much (or more) than they are giving! Here are just a few benefits of volunteering:
- Connecting with people and increased socialization
- Keeping your mind sharp
- Being active
- Providing a sense of accomplishment and purpose
- Giving back to your community and helping those in need
If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that you can work into your routine, consider volunteering with Milestone Senior Services Home Delivered Meal program (commonly known as Meals on Wheels). This program provides meals for older adults and adults with disabilities who are unable to access adequate nutrition for themselves. Meals are prepared and delivered each weekday throughout Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties – and that’s where the volunteers come in.
Volunteers make the Home Delivered Meal program possible – if Milestone had to pay staff to do all of the deliveries, the program would not be sustainable. Ideally two volunteers are used on each delivery route and Milestone operates 32 routes; multiply that by five days per week and that’s a lot of volunteers!
As a Meals on Wheels volunteer, you can set your own schedule – volunteer for as many or as few days as you care to. You can make it part of your routine once or twice a week, or once or twice a month, or you can be “on call” to help fill in as needed. Here are just a few examples of what our Home Delivered Meal volunteers have to say about their volunteer experience:
Ed Davids is retired and has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for the past six years. He likes it so much he recruited his friend Kurt to partner with him. Ed says he enjoys interacting with the clients on his route who he’s gotten to know, and it’s a great way for him to visit with Kurt who he’s known since he was 8 years old!
Rosemary Noel does two different routes each week. When asked why she volunteers with Milestone, Rosemary said, “It’s important to me to make a contribution to the community – when I’m delivering food to people who might not get it otherwise, I know I’m making a difference.” Then she added, “And it gets me out of my recliner and out of the house!”
Steve Burness and his wife, Diane, volunteer on a route once a week. They enjoy volunteering and feel it’s their responsibility to help where there’s a need. Steve said, “I know there is a need and if I can help out, I should – the world works better that way. I just feel like people are good and they want to help each other. People who have time should pick up the phone and volunteer.”
If you are interested in getting out of the house and making a difference in your community, pick up the phone and contact Trevor Heywood today at 269-382-0515 x165; or visit our Volunteer Services page.
