Do good. Feel good.
When you are a Meals on Wheels volunteer, you are delivering much more than a hot meal – you are providing human connection.
Get started today by completing the Volunteer Application:
Deliver Meals as a Volunteer Driver!
Volunteers are the heart of Meals on Wheels of Tampa. Caring and compassionate individuals deliver hot healthy meals to recipient’s homes five days a week.
One of the many benefits of volunteering is helping the growing population of Tampa’s homebound and senior members continue to live independently in their own homes. Volunteers also offer caregivers/family members peace of mind that their loved ones will receive a meal, a friendly conversation and a daily safety check.
Step 1: Please complete a Volunteer Application
*Please Note: If you have court ordered community service hours, please do not complete this volunteer application. Court order hours must be supervised hours. Call our office at (813) 238-8410 and we will instruct you on how to start that process.
Step 2: Attend a Volunteer Orientation
Volunteer Orientations are held twice a week. In-person at 11:00am on Wednesdays and Virtually at 11:00am on Fridays. On the volunteer application, you will be asked to select a date you would like attend an orientation.
If you are unable to attend a scheduled volunteer orientation, please contact us at (813) 238-8410 to discuss an alternative orientation time.
Step 3: Sign Up for a Route
Our volunteer schedules and areas are flexible so you can drive as often or as seldom as you want. You can sign up for routes and manage your schedule here once you create an account.
Monday through Friday, volunteers go to conveniently located designated pick-up sites to get meals that are in coolers and hot bags. Pick up times for each site vary between 9:30am and 12:25pm. A route sheet is provided with turn-by-turn directions to each recipient’s home. After volunteers deliver their route, the empty coolers and hot bags are dropped back off at the pick-up site.
If someone is not home, volunteers notify the Meals On Wheels of Tampa office so a follow up phone call can be made to check on the recipient’s well-being.
All routes cover just a few miles and take about an hour to complete. Routes may contain an average of 8-12 stops.
Please note: SATURDAY SPECIAL DELIVERIES ONLY- Volunteers pick up from the Meals On Wheels of Tampa office (5320 North Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33603) between 9:30am-10:30am. Do not go to designated pick-up sites on Saturdays.
The need for more drivers is highest during the summer and holiday seasons.
Learn more about our Routes and Pick-Up Sites, here.
Drivers must be 18 years of age, have an automobile and a valid driver’s license, proof of auto insurance and agree to a simple background screening.
Produce On Wheels (POW!)
To increase our senior and homebound recipient’s access to fresh produce, a program was developed, free of charge, called POW! (Produce On Wheels.)
POW! launched in October of 2015 after a needs assessment revealed that recipients wanted access to fresh fruits and vegetables. These deliveries are meant to provide healthy snacks.
Bags typically include some of the following: a head of lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, oranges, bananas, cucumbers, salad dressing, along with an educational handout (offered in both English and Spanish) that has information on the health benefits of the items, easy recipes and a comments section.
Volunteers deliver the POW! bags to all meal recipients on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Recipients must be home to receive the bag.
Seasonal Opportunities
Deliver Hurricane Preparedness Packs
As hurricane season approaches each year, Meals On Wheels of Tampa provides all of their recipients with a Hurricane Preparedness Pack. The pack contains 5 shelf stable meals, water, a shelter application, and an emergency resource guide. The free pack is given to all recipients in case a disaster were to occur that prevents volunteers from being able to get meals out to recipient homes. Hurricane season is June 1st-November 30th each year.
Volunteers deliver the packs between 9:30am-12pm on the 3rd Saturday in June each year.
All volunteers must complete an application and attend an orientation prior to delivering.
Deliver cards and baked goodies on Thanksgiving morning
Every Thanksgiving morning, volunteers drivers are given the opportunity to deliver a special gift of handmade cards, sweet treats, and gift bags to the homebound seniors on our program. Most of these elderly neighbors will spend the holiday alone, in their home. Volunteering to deliver a special gift to our recipients on this holiday morning is a great opportunity to help your community with friends or families. Children are welcome too! Many of our supporters have made the Thanksgiving Morning Delivery a part of their own family tradition.
Volunteers will deliver the packs on Thanksgiving morning between 9:30am-12pm.
All volunteers must complete an application and attend an orientation prior to delivering.
Participate in the Annual Holiday Gift Bag Drive
For many of our recipients, family or friends are far or few. Age and lack of financial resources keep many of the elderly bound to their homes during the holidays. Meals On Wheels of Tampa is making the season extra special by assembling and delivering holiday gift bags to each recipient. This is our way of reminding our homebound and seniors they are not forgotten. Each holiday bag is filled with a variety of items, such as: books, games, toiletries, a calendar, ornaments, healthy snacks, juices and a special gift. Many recipients often say this is the only gift they get all season. These gift bags are made possible by the many donations received from the community.
Volunteers will deliver the bags on the 3rd Saturday in December.
All volunteers must complete an application and attend an orientation prior to delivering.
Volunteers will be needed to help sort and count items, then pack bags the week leading up to the delivery. Please call (813) 238-8410 to sign up.
*Help us collect items for the gifts bags this holiday season. Donations for the gift bags may be dropped off at the Meals On Wheels of Tampa’s office or can be given to their truck driver at any of the MOWTampa pick-up sites. If you would like to place a festive collection box at your place of business, please call (813) 238-8410 and ask for Kristin.
School Community Service Hours
Meals On Wheels of Tampa can help students complete required school-related community service hours.
Please contact us at 813-238-8410 to discuss completing community service hours with us!
Community Service Volunteer Opportunities include:
- Have your parents sign up for a meal delivery route or Saturday delivery route and join them! We grant 2 service hours per route.
- Helping on the day of a special event -Hurricane Preparedness Pack Day, Thanksgiving, or POW! – on the 3rd Saturday of the month. (You MUST call the office and be added to the schedule)
- Giving your time at the office to help wash out coolers used in the daily meal delivery by volunteers.
- Decorate paper lunch bags for our Thanksgiving morning delivery. (You MUST call the office before to schedule a time to pick up the bags from us)
- Make cards. Cards that contain the following can’t be accepted: political or religious references, glitter or sealed in envelopes. (You MUST call the office to be approved to be given hours)
Due to the amount of interest, please call the office (813) 238-8410 to confirm needs before dropping off cards or Thanksgiving bags. We need a total of 1,000 cards/bags per holiday and want to make sure we do not receive more than we can deliver.
We currently are not accepting Cards for Service Hours. Thank you for understanding!
Common questions and answers about volunteering with Meals On Wheels of Tampa are below. Please call the office (813) 238-8410 if you have any additional questions or comments.
What are the benefits of volunteering with Meals On Wheels of Tampa?
Volunteers make a difference every day through their smiles and care. In order to provide the best service to those we serve, we need dependable and caring people. The quality of our program and ability to expand our service to the community depends on your reliability.
By volunteering for Meals On Wheels of Tampa you will help to strengthen the community, make a direct impact on someone’s life, gain life experience, meet new friends and have fun!
Expectations
Volunteer placement and route assignments are based on your availability, interest and ability to meet the requirements. While our goal is to meet the needs of our mission, we strive to ensure that each volunteer’s time is well utilized and that you enjoy your time of service. We hope you honor your commitment and consider your volunteer assignment just as important as a paid position.
Listed below are our expectations:
- Complete the required application and background screening
- Attend a Volunteer Orientation
- Volunteer in a professional manner
- Report all “Not Home” meal delivery events immediately
Are there any requirements to be a volunteer at Meals On Wheels of Tampa?
All volunteer drivers must be 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, an automobile, proof of auto insurance, and agree to a background check. Those under 18 may volunteer by riding along with a guardian, parent, or friend.
Is there a minimum time commitment to volunteer with Meals On Wheels of Tampa?
There is no minimum time commitment to volunteer. Though a commitment of delivering a route at least one day, every other week is encouraged.
How do I become a volunteer at Meals On Wheels of Tampa?
To begin volunteering with Meals On Wheels of Tampa, please fill out a Volunteer Application and attend a Volunteer Orientation.
When do you offer volunteer trainings/orientations?
Volunteer Orientations are held twice a week – in person on Wednesday at our 5320 North Boulevard location and virtually on Friday. Orientations are 45 -60 minutes in length and will share helpful hints about meal delivery. You will also have the option to schedule a future ride along with a veteran volunteer. To sign up for an orientation, please complete a Volunteer Application and choose your orientation date.
Do you have weekend volunteer opportunities?
Yes, we have weekend volunteer opportunities on the 3rd Saturday of most months.
I’m part of a group that wants to volunteer with Meals On Wheels of Tampa. What kinds of opportunities do you have for groups?
Meals On Wheels of Tampa offers several group opportunities, join our Adopt-A-Route program, or schedule a group day of service. Learn more about group opportunities, here!
Can I volunteer to deliver meals on a regular basis?
Yes! You can work with our volunteer team to secure a route and day of the week that works best for your schedule. They will be able to set you up on an automatic volunteer schedule. Get started by filling out a Volunteer Application.
Can I volunteer to make meals or help in your kitchen?
There are no opportunities to make meals or help in the kitchen.
Do you have opportunities to help out in the office?
Yes. Meals On Wheels of Tampa office volunteer slots require a one day a week commitment due to training and system access. Please call the office at (813) 238-8410 if you are looking for this type of volunteer opportunity.
Do you have volunteer opportunities for children and families?
Yes, volunteer drivers may deliver meals with their children and/or family. Our monthly volunteer opportunities are nice for families including Produce On Wheels (POW!), Thanksgiving Morning and Holiday Gift Bags delivery days.
What if there is bad weather? How do I know if I should deliver?
Our first priority during a storm is both your safety and the safety of our recipients. Please check this site for road closures before delivering a route in bad weather. If you are delivering during bad weather and encounter a situation where the weather and/or the potential flooding creates danger, please do not deliver the meal. We simply ask that you call the office to let us know, and then we will contact the recipient. You may give away the meal to the next recipient on the route.
Meals On Wheels of Tampa may cancel delivery if the weather is hazardous and/or there is flooding. Scheduled volunteers will receive an email if their route is canceled and staff will call to notify recipients and volunteers if service is canceled for that day. Local radio and TV stations may also announce closings- listen for “Meals On Wheels of Tampa” – not to be confused with the County program, Hillsborough County Aging Services. Be safe, use your best judgement, and please communicate anything unusual on any given day with our office. Together we will do our best to make sure our volunteers and homebound are safe all year long.
While our recipients depend on the daily meals delivered, each of our recipients receive a Hurricane Preparedness Pack, which includes five shelf stable meals, at the end of May in preparation for Hurricane Season. These packs are shelf stable and are to be held in reserve should meal delivery have to be canceled due to inclement weather.
I have an educational or service requirement to fulfill (for school, a club, an association, etc.). Can I earn service hours by volunteering with Meals On Wheels of Tampa?
We cannot guarantee that we can fulfill your volunteer hours requirement. However, if you reach us with plenty of notice, we will do our best to find you a meaningful volunteer experience that will mutually benefit Meals On Wheels of Tampa.
I need hours for court ordered community service.
Please do not fill out a volunteer application if you need hours for court ordered community service. Call the Meals On Wheels of Tampa office at (813) 238-8410 to verify that we are currently accepting court-ordered community service volunteers.
If we are accepting court-ordered volunteers, please come to the Meals On Wheels of Tampa kitchen (5320 North Boulevard) Monday-Friday, between 10:00-2:00pm, with your paperwork, and ask for our Director of Food Services.
I live outside of Tampa. Do you have opportunities elsewhere in the Bay Area?
Meals On Wheels of Tampa is a local, independent organization that serves Greater Tampa. We don’t offer volunteer opportunities outside of our service boundaries. There are 5,000 Meals On Wheels agencies across the country. Please check www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org and contact your local agency for opportunities in your community.