Volunteering for your local Meals on Wheels Service
Meals on Wheels Services are represented by the largest Volunteer Workforce of any voluntary organisation in Queensland – approximately 14,000 throughout the State.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are crucial to the effectiveness of Meals on Wheels Services in Queensland. Services are provided by:
- Kitchen Helpers – required each day (Monday to Friday) to help prepare and pack the meals;
- Drivers (with own car) – required each day (Monday to Friday) to deliver the midday meal;
- Drivers’ Assistants – required each day (Monday to Friday) to travel with the driver. You could make up a team with a neighbour, relative or friend;
- Emergency Helpers – these people are required to “fill in” when necessary; and
- Members or Office Bearer of a local Meals on Wheels Committee.
Volunteering in Meals on Wheels Kitchens
In almost all Services, volunteers are required each day in the kitchens to assist in preparation of the meals. Approximately 100 kitchens are operated by Meals on Wheels in the State of Queensland.
Delivering Meals
In almost all Services, two people are required to take the meals to the home of the patients. These volunteers are defined as “driver and assistant”. These teams deliver up to 25 meals. This can be varied by the distance travelled. Some Services in outlying Country areas travel longer distances to deliver meals than some inner-City runs. It usually takes about 1 ½ hours for the delivery team to deliver the meals allocated to them.
How much time do volunteers donate?
Ideally, volunteers are rostered once each four weeks, so that a Service operating with three (3) teams would require six (6) volunteers each delivery day – 30 each week, making a total of 120 every four weeks. Large Services need between 350 and 500 volunteers a month to maintain the delivery service.
Who volunteers?
It is encouraging for Meals on Wheels Services to have students from Universities, Colleges and High Schools, undertaking community service. Others involved include Special Schools, Handicapped persons, Police Cadets, Girls and Boys Brigades, Scouts, Guides, etc. Persons ordered to undertake Community Service by the Courts also attend at some Centres.
Most volunteers in Meals on Wheels Services come from single income and fixed income families. Because of the increasing percentage of families having both parents in the workforce, it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain volunteer numbers. Many elderly persons are themselves involved as volunteers for Meals on Wheels.
How to become a Volunteer
Individuals, families, community groups and businesses are invited to volunteer to help Meals on Wheels Services in their communities. To volunteer to help at a Meals on Wheels Service in your community, simply fill out the Volunteers online form, or contact the Association Office on Ph: 07 3205 5588, Fax: 07 3205 1667 or via email: qmow@tpg.com.au.
Click here to fill out the Queensland Meals on Wheels Volunteers Online Form.