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
Step 2: Attend a Volunteer Orientation
Volunteer Orientations are held on select Fridays in the morning.
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 (550 W. Hillsborough Ave., 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, a gallon of water, a shelter application, and an emergency resource guide. Community groups and individuals gather on the 3rd Saturday morning in May at Meals On Wheels of Tampa’s office to prepare each pack and hand out as volunteers drive up. 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 May 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 more than 800 homebound seniors and disabled. 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 Meals On Wheels of Tampa’s office, 550 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa, FL 33603. Volunteers can give contributions to their truck driver or site supervisor 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. Donations will be accepted through Monday before delivery.
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:
- Making greeting cards with positive messages (Birthday, Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Holiday, etc.) Receiving a card along with the hot meal gives our seniors an extra reason to celebrate special days. Cards that contain the following can’t be accepted: political or religious references, glitter or sealed in envelopes.
- Helping on the day of a special event (Hurricane Preparedness Pack Day, Thanksgiving, or POW! (every 3rd Saturday of the month).
- Decorating paper lunch bags for our Thanksgiving morning delivery.
- Giving your time at the office to help wash out coolers used in the daily meal delivery by volunteers.
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 850 cards/bags per holiday and want to make sure we do not receive more than we can deliver. 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.
Some of the most valuable benefits are intrinsic, such as:
- Help to strengthen the community
- Make a positive impact on someone’s quality of life
- Gain work and life experiences
- Model the importance of giving back to the community
- Meet new friends
- Builds self-esteem and self confidence
- Improves health
- Gives value
- Strengthens leadership skills
- Experience diversity
- Expand career opportunities
- 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 mandatory 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; or by helping in the office.
How do I become a volunteer at Meals On Wheels of Tampa?
Thank you for your interest in volunteering to help our senior and homebound neighbors. 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 every other Friday. Please make sure you have filled out a Volunteer Application before RSVP’ing for a future Volunteer Orientation date. The Volunteer Manager leads orientations and shares helpful hints about meal delivery. You will also have the option to schedule a future ride along with a veteran volunteer.
Can I learn more without completing an application and/or attending an orientation?
Yes, you can join us for lunch during a Nourish At Noon Luncheon. Learn more here.
Do you have weekend volunteer opportunities?
Yes, weekend volunteer opportunities are available most months. POW! (Produce On Wheels) deliveries occur on the 3rd Saturday of each month, excluding November.
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 (organizations, churches, businesses, etc.)?
MOWTampa offers several group opportunities, like the Adopt-A-Route program, Hurricane Preparedness Pack program, POW! program and the MOWTampa Holiday Gift Bag program. Learn more about group opportunities, here!
Can I volunteer to deliver meals on a regular basis?
Yes! Secure a route and day of the week that works best for your schedule today! 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, we are in need of office volunteers to support both long-term and one-time projects in the office. Please complete a Volunteer Application and indicate your volunteer preferences.
Do you offer Thanksgiving or Christmas Day delivery opportunities? What else do you offer for the holidays?
MOWTampa volunteers deliver special goody bags and baked treats on Thanksgiving morning. Please note that we do NOT deliver on Christmas day. A Holiday Gift Bag Drive occurs in November and December where the community comes together to collect items for the holiday gift bags. Bags are delivered on the Saturday before Christmas.
I am interested in volunteering for your special events. How do I go about doing that?
It’s easy! Please fill out a Volunteer Application and indicate your preference for volunteering.
Do you have volunteer opportunities for children and families?
Yes, volunteers may deliver with children or family. Other opportunities that are nice for group participation include POW! (Produce On Wheels), Thanksgiving Morning and Hurricane Preparedness Pack delivery days.
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.
Do you have evening volunteer opportunities?
There are no evening opportunities available.
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 MOWTampa.
I need hours for court ordered community service.
Please come to the Meals On Wheels of Tampa kitchen (550 W. Hillsborough Ave.) Monday-Friday, between 12:00-2:00pm, with your paperwork, and ask for Tony. Please do not fill out a volunteer application if you need hours for court ordered community service.
I want to volunteer but I don’t have a car. What can I do?
Volunteer opportunities that don’t require a car, include office support, reception duties, making cards, etc. Please fill out a Volunteer Application.
I live outside of Tampa. Do you have opportunities elsewhere in the Bay Area?
MOWTampa 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.