Volunteer

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Deliver more than meals

Volunteering with Meals on Wheels is more than just delivering food—it’s delivering kindness, connection, and care. For many recipients, our volunteers are the only friendly face they see, bringing not just a meal but a moment of warmth and conversation. Your time can help ease loneliness, support independence, and make a real impact in someone’s life. Join us and be a part of something truly meaningful!

Complete the volunteer application form
Start My Application
TESTIMONIAL

What our amazing volunteers think

Our volunteers often say that giving their time to Meals on Wheels is just as rewarding for them as it is for those they serve. Whether it’s the smiles, gratitude, or meaningful connections, every delivery makes a difference. Hear from our incredible volunteers about how this experience has touched their hearts and strengthened our community.

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Mackenzie Williams
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Matt Danner
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Rebecca Laxton
WHAT TO EXPECT

The four hour shift of a volunteer

Your shift as a Meals on Wheels volunteer begins by picking up fresh, hot meals from our partners at Little Hobo restaurant. You’ll receive a delivery route and a list of recipients, ensuring each meal reaches the right home. A warm greeting and a friendly smile are just as important as the food you bring!

As you deliver meals, you’ll meet seniors and individuals who rely on this service for nourishment and connection. A quick chat or a kind word can brighten their day and ease loneliness. You’re not just dropping off food—you’re delivering care, comfort, and a sense of community.

Once your route is complete, you’ll finish knowing you’ve helped someone stay healthy and independent. The time you give—whether once a week or more—has a real impact on real lives. Being a Meals on Wheels volunteer isn’t just about service; it’s about compassion, connection, and making a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

fill out the online volunteer form or call us at (612) 623-3363 and we will refer you to your local program.

Volunteers drive to the program site, pick up 8-10 meals stored in easy-to-carry thermal packs, and deliver them to residences using a route designed by the program. You will receive detailed driving and delivery directions – no preparation is necessary. Once your route is finished, you will return the supplies to the program site.

Delivery routes are designed to take no longer than one hour. For most people, it’s easy to deliver meals during the lunch hour.

Meals are generally delivered between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

As often as you would like! Many of our volunteers choose one day a week or one day a month to deliver meals. Commit to a frequency you are comfortable with, and you can always decide to deliver more often in the future

Yes! Delivering meals is a great social activity that you can do with a friend or a larger group. It’s also common for church, social or workplace groups to organize delivery teams. Learn more about how to start a Workplace Delivery Team.

Even if you are volunteering alone, you can request to be paired with another volunteer for your route. If you’re a new volunteer, it can be helpful to go with someone who has delivered before.

With 35 delivery locations throughout the Twin Cities area, chances are there’s a program that’s close to your home or work.

Volunteers bring the meal to each recipient’s door. Part of the fun of delivering is visiting with recipients but it is important to keep visits brief enough for you to complete your route on time. If you find that your recipient needs additional help, you can contact your program coordinator.

While finding volunteers to fill delivery routes is our biggest need, there are other ways to get involved. Here’s a list of our other volunteer opportunities.