TUCSON, Ariz. — There is an urgent need for volunteer delivery drivers at Mobile Meals. It is a program that delivers two meals a day to home-bound seniors and adults with disabilities.
73-year-old Sharlene Berry has been a volunteer since 2012. Volunteering every Wednesday, she drives to an average of five homes to deliver meals.
"I feel like I'm really providing a service to those who are not able to cook for themselves or get out to eat. And I see, as I visit with these people and delivery to them weekly, an improvement in their health, because we're providing nourishing meals," said Berry.
And aside from the service mobile meals provides, she also says it's a great way for retired volunteers, like herself, to stay active in the community.
"Its really an advantage for older people to get out once a day and interact with our clients. Gives you a meaningful reason to go ahead and get out," said Berry.
Drivers begin building relationships with the clients they deliver to. Berry said, for some clients, the drivers could be the only friendly faces they see regularly.
"We visit daily, and its comforting to the family members to know that their loved ones are checked on daily for health or well-being. And should the driver find an emergency situation, we call the office and get guidance on exactly what to do and the family is notified if that's necessary., but its really a good program for checking on the home-bound on a daily basis," said Berry.
Berry became a volunteer after she saw a KGUN9 story on Mobile Meals six years ago.
The program is looking for people who can commit to at least two hours, one day a week - Monday through Friday - and is looking to fill vacancies immediately.
Mobile Meal delivery drivers are reimbursed for their mileage from traveling to house to house. April training sessions are scheduled for April 9 and April 25. One-on-one training can be scheduled as well. Call (520) 622-1600 if you are interested in volunteering and click here for more information.
Mobile Meals services Tucson, South Tucson, Sahuarita, and Green Valley. Each meal is prepared fresh at one of nine kitchen facilities, then delivered daily. Mobile Meals delivers more than 100,000 meals to clients every year.
