TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Leon County's program to deliver food to the elderly is facing a serious shortage of volunteers.
Elder Care Services’ Meals on Wheels program in relies on over 600 volunteers from the community to help deliver meals to home-bound seniors Monday through Friday each week. Many of their volunteers come from state agencies and small businesses. With continued economic strains and increased demands in the workplace, Elder Care Services is in need of an even larger corps of volunteers to fill their 30 daily routes.
The Meals on Wheels program does more than just provide a hot nutritious meal to over 350 home-bound seniors. In many cases, these Meals on Wheels volunteers are the only face those seniors may see all day. Along with a meal, the volunteer is also providing a safety check.
Since 1972, Elder Care Services has recruited both individuals and groups to adopt weekly routes. With 30 daily routes, it takes a minimum of 150 people a week to help deliver meals.
Many companies, including state agencies, provide their employees the opportunities to deliver meals during their lunch hour. If you or your organization would like to volunteer, please call Elder Care at 850-921-5554 or email at hendersonm@ecsbigbend.org.
