A volunteer opportunity available in the Janesville area might take only a couple of hours out of your week, but it can have a lasting and meaningful impact on the recipient — and on the volunteer, as well.
The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Rock County is facing an urgent and critical need for friendly volunteer meal delivery drivers in the Janesville area during the week, around lunchtime.
The drivers have an assigned route and deliver prepared, hot nutritious meals to the seniors. Routes typically take two hours, and tasks entail picking up meals from the caterer, completing deliveries and, finally, returning the insulated bags to the caterer.
Handing a meal over to a homebound person provides obvious nourishment, but the face-to-face human interaction is equally important.
“For some of the seniors, this is their only social interaction during the day,” Linda Hardie, nutrition program supervisor with the ADRC of Rock County said. “They look forward to their interactions with the drivers.”
Louise Walberg began volunteering as a meal delivery driver about four years ago, around the time she retired. The interactions, she said, are a highlight to her day.
“I think it’s a really good thing to get into. What I always think about is, ‘What if this were my mom or dad?’” Walberg said. “While I’m taking them a hot meal, I’m also another set of eyes on them.”
Walberg said she has gotten to know some of the seniors on her route and enjoys learning different details about their lives.
“You meet so many nice people,” Walberg said. “They’re so thankful when you’re there with their food. If I’m ahead of schedule, I will actually engage in a little more conversation with some of them.”
Longtime volunteer Jack Thorn, a retiree of seven years, began volunteering with the meal delivery service about three years ago and said the experience has enriched his life since he began it.
“I’ve gotten to know the people on my route. I enjoy seeing them, and they enjoy talking for a bit,” Thorn said. “I feel like they’re almost family.”
Hardie said the schedule for volunteers is flexible. Some participants deliver meals once a week, while others do so more frequently. There also is a need for substitute drivers to fill in on an as-needed basis.
The ADRC of Rock County does provide mileage reimbursement to volunteers, based on the federal IRS rate, which currently is 67 cents per mile.
For additional information on this volunteer opportunity, contact Hardie at the local ADRC office at 608-757-5474.
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