I have been volunteering with MOWs of Durham for several years. I initially was a board member and since retirement am a volunteer driver. MOWs is a tremendous service to our elderly and disabled folks who might not be able to eat a hot meal. The staff are wonderful to work with and are always smiling and helpful. Delivering meals to folks and seeing their face smile is the highlight of my day.
I am a graduate student at Duke and help organize service opportunities for my fellow students. My peers and I have been volunteering with Meals on Wheels for the past couple of years, and have found them to be wonderful to work with. The organization is flexible and very helpful in onboarding new volunteers. They make volunteering on a periodic basis -which fits students schedules - very easy and very enjoyable.
I have been out of work for a little more than a year now. I needed to find something to completing my Masters and seeking to gain re-employment. I figured volunteering would help open some doors for me and besides, it never hurts to give back; it only helps. :) I have been volunteering as a driver for about 3 mths. now and I absolutely love it. I enjoy the conversations I have witht the clients and I look forward to seeing them each time There is so much joy in visiting the elderly and hearing the wonderful stories they have to share. Volunteering really humbles you and keeps you in perspective with the real world. Spiritually, it is cleansing. I love it!!!!!
We moved to N. Carolina in 1989. As we got settled, I was introduced to M.O.W. through a bulletin in our church. I first volunteered around 1993-1996. I then returned to graduate school, and I sadly had to take a leave of absence. This non-profit is people oriented, and it provides a tremendous service to the community. The longer routes at times can seem like they take forever, so partner with a friend. There are also intermediate and shorter routes as well. By participating in M.O.W., you will provide a hot meal and encouragement to a person in need.
I moved down here from New York 3 months ago, and I started up with Meals on Wheels Durham once settled in a bit. My duties include helping pack up the bags for the different routes and then delivering to the clients on my route. I thought volunteering would just help me get out of the house (I work from home) and get to know Durham, both the city and its people, a bit better; however, not only did I meet really kindhearted people volunteering, but I also met some of the warmest and friendliest people on my route with whom I have gotten to know better and better as the weeks go by. The time commitment is very easy (as little as an hour is needed), but the only downside is that it takes place during the AM business hours which may be difficult for traditional office workers. I hope more people will take a moment to check out MoW; it's a great organization that makes volunteering and contributing very easy and extremely rewarding.
I drove during the summer when students were gone and folks were on vacation. Everyone at M-O-W was so kind, friendly and appreciative.The interaction with the clients was very fulfilling. Will gladly help out again.
I’m a Meals on Wheels volunteer in Durham NC. I take an early lunch on Fridays and take dinner (the southerner’s idiom) to elderly or convalescing folks. They get a hot meal and have someone to check on them each day. It’s a wonderful service for over 260 people in the Bull City. I wrote this about Meals on Wheels for my company’s website: I do an MOW route every week in Durham. It takes a little over an hour, maybe ninety minutes. I typically deliver to ten homes. It has helped me learn about every corner of Durham, and it takes me out of my “corporate comfort zone.” I think that’s a good thing. It’s so much more than just delivering a meal. I see the problems “old folks” face who are determined to remain in their homes. I get to practice “patience” waiting at the door for people using walkers or trying to converse with someone who has pretty much lost their hearing. I’ve watched families deal with Alzheimer’s. I get a snapshot of urban poverty. And I’ve been inspired by the faith of several seniors in their struggles with terminal cancer. I may not have painted a pretty picture, but I assure you I get much more than I give from that simple act of delivering a meal. I’ve thought about making it mandatory for my managers. Everyone could spare a lunch hour for this experience. More business folks could squeeze this into their weekly routine!
I am a Board member who has also been a volunteer driver for 14 years. I fell in love with the clients the very first day I did a route, delivering hot meals to homebound residents. Meals on Wheels allows older and even younger but disabled people to stay in their homes rather than move to a nursing home. This is win-win: it's less costly for everyone and it's a happier outcome for the client. The visit provides two things to clients: a hot meal and social contact. As a Board member, I see the fiscal caution and the focus on goals that allows an organization to succeed and grow. Meals on Wheels of Durham has excellent staff, healthy reserves and a great long range plan. We are expanding oru physical capacity sow e can double the number of clients served within one year.