Meals on Wheels Delivers Food and More to the Elderly

Meals on Wheels volunteer Dave Roycraft enjoys visiting with clients on his route around Woodbridge.

Roycraft learned about Meals on Wheels when his widowed mother used the service in New Jersey. He thought it was a good program that benefited his mother beyond the meals she received. 

“I thought, how great is that, that total strangers are touching the life of my mom.” Roycraft said. “What immediately dawned on me is that the food delivery was the catalyst to open the door for strangers to talk to my mom. I thought it was a good service, and when I got the chance, I became a Meals on Wheels volunteer.” 

The Prince William Area Agency on Aging needs more people like Roycraft and the other Meals on Wheels volunteers to deliver meals. Before the pandemic, Kathleen Ambrose, the site manager of the Woodbridge Senior Center, had dozens of volunteers who delivered meals five days a week. During the pandemic, many drivers ceased operations, resulting in deliveries being reduced. Meals on Wheels recipients still get five meals, but they are delivered weekly instead of daily. 

“The need for volunteers is huge,” Ambrose said. “We had approximately 48 volunteers, and when COVID hit, we went down to seven. We’re building back slowly. Now we are up to 12 volunteers.  We expanded the number of routes from five to nine to increase number of participants, but now we will need to expand days of the week. This means we will need volunteers to cover all five days of the week and all the routes. But, right now, we just don’t have the volunteers.” 

Apart from delivering meals to individuals aged 60 and above who are unable to leave their residences, Meals on Wheels drivers also ensure the wellbeing of their clients by checking in on them, often staying for a conversation with those who desire a bit of company. 

“They see somebody they can talk to and relate what’s going on in their life,” Ambrose said of Meals on Wheels recipients. “A lot of times they’ll say that they’re lonely and would like someone to talk to, and the drivers are good at talking to people. The socializing part of it is very important and it’s also a checkup service.” 

Jane Lehman and her husband, Rene Lehman, deliver meals together every Tuesday and enjoy the work. The Lehman’s also learned about Meals on Wheels when a family member used the service and enjoyed the company of the volunteers who delivered food. 

“My mother-in-law received Meals on Wheels many years ago in Maryland,” Jane Lehman said. “We really appreciated it. When we retired, we just thought we’d pass it on, and we’ve been doing it for 17 years. It does my heart good. Everyone should pass it on.” 

“We get more out of it than the people we serve,” Rene Lehman said. “It’s just a tremendous program, and we wish there were more like it.” 

Edna Albaneze, a retired nurse, also receives Meals on Wheels deliveries, a service she can’t imagine going without. 

“I can’t really prepare meals myself anymore. I can’t stand up long enough to cook,” Albaneze said. “Dave and I also have a little chat while he’s here.” 

Another of Roycraft’s clients, Stella Nelson, a retired Walter Reed Army Medical Center therapeutic recreational specialist, also appreciates Roycraft’s visits, as does her cat Geeky, who meets Roycraft at the door every time he visits. 

“I like talking to everybody,” Nelson said. “I look forward each day to the association with the people that come here. It really makes my day. Needless to say, people aren’t coming to me on a regular basis. In the office, I was constantly busy. Meals on Wheels allows me to have people from outside come in. It’s a welcome day of the week.” 

Ambrose said volunteering for Meals on Wheels can be rewarding. 

According to Ambrose, “It's an activity that individuals can typically dedicate once a week, spending one to two hours to support older adults in the community. It's not excessively demanding in terms of time, just a valuable chance to give back." 

People who wish to volunteer for Meals on Wheels can visit the Area Agency on Aging webpage and fill out an application. Volunteers will need to submit to a police background check, sign a confidentiality statement, and complete Volunteer DMV Record Check and Meals on Wheels background check forms. 

Learn more about the Meals on Wheels Program and how you can volunteer at pwcva.gov/aaa-volunteer.