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"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 at either the main location (on North Roxboro Road) or one of the satellite pickup locations 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 directions 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. We ask that this be done by 12:15 pm, as the caterer must pick up the containers for the next day's delivery.
Special Instructions
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If a client does not answer the door, DO NOT leave a meal. Instead, leave a yellow "We Missed You" tag on the door.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 place it in the envelope marked "Cost Sharing".
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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| Volunteer Rights, Grievance & Resignation Volunteer Rights:
- Be happy and enjoy your job.
- Be informed about your work environment, policies, and staff members.
- Know what is expected of you as a volunteer.
- Be heard by making suggestions and sharing opinions.
- Be supported by Meals on Wheels staff members.
- Be recognized and appreciated for your commitment and effort.
Resignation: Meals on Wheels sincerely hopes that you will not find it necessary to stop volunteering for this much needed service. However, should you find it necessary to resign, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible.
Volunteer Grievance Guidelines: A volunteer can state any related concern or complaint to the Volunteer Coordinator. Prompt attention will be given to resolve the grievance according to the guidelines found in the Meals on Wheels Procedure Manual.
Volunteer Code
- As a volunteer, I realize that I am subject to a code of ethics similar to that which binds the professional in the field in which I work. I, like them, assume certain responsibilities and expect to account for what I do in terms of what I am expected to do. I will keep confidential matters confidential.
- I interpret "volunteer" to mean that I have agreed to work without compensation in money, but having been accepted as a worker, I expect to do my work according to professional standards, just as the paid staff are expected to do their work.
- I promise to bring to my work an attitude of open-mindedness, a willingness to be trained for it, and all my interest and attention.
- I believe that my attitude toward volunteer work should be professional. I believe that I have an obligation to my work, those who direct it, to my colleagues, those for whom it is done, and the public.
- Being eager to contribute all that I can to human betterment, I accept this code for the volunteer as my code to be followed carefully, cheerfully, and dependably.
Prohibited Activities
- Meals on Wheels prohibits the acceptance of money or gifts by staff or volunteers from the participants in the program.
- Please do not offer medications, vitamins, or supplements to the clients.
- Do not give medical advice to, or perform any medical procedures on clients.
- It is not the responsibility of a volunteer to be a social worker, pastor, doctor, or lawyer. Please refer client problems to the Meals on Wheels staff, who will then contact the appropriate person or agency.
Helpful Reminders
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Address each client using his/her name.
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Show genuine interest in each client, and be a good listener.
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Speak clearly and audibly, as many clients are hard of hearing.
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Use contact expression if appropriate (i.e.: hold hand, touch arm)
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Be optimistic and confident.
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Do not direct the conversation towards a client's illness or disability.
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Do not give your home telephone number to clients, and refrain from using your own money to meet a client's needs.
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Smile!
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General Inquiries: 919-667-9424, Volunteer Hotline: 919-667-9426
