Serving hot, nutritious meals at your doorstep

Current Volunteers

“Volunteers are America’s silent strength. Those who give of themselves in a spirit of unselfish devotion to the needs of others are truly this nation’s most generous, unsung heros.” – William Ward

This section is primarily for those who are already volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering, please see our volunteer information page. Here you’ll find a collection of helpful tips, instructions and procedures to make your experience volunteering with Meals on Wheels of Durham safe, productive and rewarding.

Pick Up & Delivery Procedures

  • Meals should be picked up on Ross Road by 10:30 am. Volunteers may work alone or in pairs, depending on individual preference.
  • Please sign the Volunteer Sign-in Sheet upon arrival to the pickup site. Pick up the folder that contains the information for the route you will be delivering that day. The folder contains the name of each client on your route, as well as their addresses and direction to their homes. City maps are available by request in addition to the written directions.
    Note: Changes occur daily on each route, so please look over the list of stops for the day.
  • Each meal consists of two components, a hot entree and a cold pack. Hot and cold components are packed in separate containers. Please take the hot and cold containers that are marked for your route only.
  • Before leaving the pickup site, please make sure that the containers you have taken each contain the correct number of hot entrees and cold packs. This will prevent a return trip to the pickup site and subsequent late delivery of a meal. Notify the Volunteer Coordinator immediately if you have too many (or not enough) meals for your route.
  • While delivering meals, each car should display two yellow “Meals on Wheels Volunteer” signs, one each in the front and rear windows of your car. If these signs are not in your folder, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator.
  • Upon completion of your delivery route, containers and folders should be returned to the pickup site.

Special Instructions

  • If a client does not answer the door, DO NOT leave a meal. Instead, leave a  “We Missed You” tag on the door.
  • Immediately notify the Meals on Wheels office if a client does not answer the door. Meals on Wheels staff will immediately follow up on the client’s safety and whereabouts.
  • Please inform the Meals on Wheels office of anything unusual on the route, or if you have observed a change in the condition of the client. Meals on Wheels always follows up on these reports.
  • Medical Emergencies – If you should ever arrive to find a client in immediate need of medical attention, call 911! Do not attempt to move the client or perform any medical procedures yourself. Stay with the client until help arrives, then call the Meals on Wheels office to report the incident.
  • Contributions – Sometimes clients may wish to make a contribution to the Meals on Wheels program by sending it along with a volunteer. If you receive a contribution from a client, please return it to the office and give it to a member of our staff”.
  • Volunteer Safety – If you encounter an unsafe situation on the route they are delivering, you are not encouraged to enter that situation and deliver a meal. You are to use your discretion and judgment to determine for yourself if you feel unsafe. Please notify the Volunteer Coordinator and the Director if such a situation occurs.
  • Absences – Meals on Wheels realizes that unexpected events may arise which prevent you from delivering a route on your assigned day. If you will not be able to deliver meals on your assigned day please notify the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible.
  • If at any time during your service to the Meals on Wheels program a situation arises where you are unsure of the appropriate course of action, call the Meals on Wheels office at 919-667-9424.

Client Confidentiality

Volunteers must be aware of the confidential nature of client information, which must be observed for the protection of the client, the volunteer, and the Meals on Wheels program. Do not reveal clients’ names or personal matters to anyone except Meals on Wheels staff members.

Inclement Weather Procedures

  • Meals are not delivered when road conditions make it dangerous for volunteers to drive safely.
  • Both clients and volunteers should tune to WTVD-Channel 11 or WRAL-Channel 5 by 7 am for cancellation notification. Additionally, a closure message will be placed on the Meals on Wheels answering machine.
  • If uncertain, please phone the Meals on Wheels office at 919-667-9424 to confirm cancellation prior to venturing out into unsafe driving conditions.

Helpful Reminders

  • Address each client using his/her name.
  • Show genuine interest in each client, and be a good listener.
  • Speak clearly and audibly, as many clients are hard of hearing.
  • Use contact expression if appropriate (i.e.: hold hand, touch arm)
  • Be optimistic and confident.
  • Do not direct the conversation towards a client’s illness or disability.
  • Do not give your home telephone number to clients, and refrain from using your own money to meet a client’s needs.
  • Smile!

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