The mission of Meals On Wheels of Tampa is “to nourish, enrich and strengthen the lives of seniors and individuals who have difficulty leaving their homes and are challenged to prepare meals.”
Each weekday, Meals On Wheels of Tampa delivers more than 800 individuals a hot, nutritious meal prepared locally in our commercial-grade kitchen. These meals are delivered to recipients at their homes by caring volunteers.
Those eligible for our home delivery meal service include the elderly, disabled, and at-home individuals with long-term or temporary food needs. Homebound individuals are broadly defined as those who can who have difficulty leaving their homes and are challenged to prepare meals. Meals On Wheels of Tampa helps people “age in place” for as long as possible.
Many will tell you, our program is more than a meal. For some of our homebound neighbors, that visit from a volunteer is the only human contact they will receive that day. These regular meals and visits make a difference. They help increase the intake of nutritious food and improve personal outlook and well-being. They decrease feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Meals on Wheels volunteers serve as a critical link between recipients and their families, loved ones, and neighbors. Volunteers are asked to watch out for troubling developments in each home–a recipient who seems out of sorts or ill, an unsafe condition in the house — and follow specific instructions for reporting such incidents. This safety check provides peace of mind to recipients and caregivers alike.
Meals On Wheels of Tampa serves the Greater Tampa area. Our service area is from the county line to the north to MacDill AF Base to the south, the county line to the west, to the I-75 corridor to the east, and continuing south through Riverview and Gibsonton. We do not serve the Brandon area.
There is no age requirement to receive the Meals On Wheels of Tampa service. And, we cross all demographics. As a privately funded non-profit organization, Meals On Wheels of Tampa relies on the community for financial contributions and for volunteers. The support of the community makes it possible to deliver nutrition, connection, and hope to those in need.
Meals On Wheels of Tampa volunteers deliver meals Monday through Friday. Volunteers pick up meals from a designated pick-up site and deliver them along a pre-determined route directly to the homes of our recipients. We have 18 pick-up sites throughout Hillsborough County so volunteers can conveniently pick-up close to work or home. Pick-up times vary between 9:30 am and 12:25 pm depending on the site. Directions to each home delivery will be provided. Most routes cover just a few miles, take about 60-90 minutes to complete, and average 8-12 stops. Once all meals are delivered, volunteers return the delivery packaging items to pick-up site and get on their way.
Volunteer as often as your schedule allows – weekly, bi-weekly, monthly. Volunteer drivers must be 18 years of age, complete an application, pass a background check and attend a one-hour orientation. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicle and gas and must carry the minimum auto insurance required by state law.
When you are a Meals on Wheels volunteer, you are delivering much more than a nutritious meal – you are providing human connection.
Volunteer Job Description
Volunteer Title: Meal Delivery Driver for Riverview or Gibsonton
Service Location: Drivers will pick up from one of our eighteen pick-up locations and deliver meals along a pre-determined route directly to the homes of our recipients. The pickup site location for the Gibsonton and Riverview areas is First Baptist Church of Riverview, 8626 US Highway 301 South, Riverview. Pick-up time: is 11:30 am.
Purpose of the position: Drivers deliver nutritious meals to homebound individuals. Volunteers are the heart of Meals on Wheels of Tampa. Caring and compassionate individuals deliver hot healthy meals to recipients’ homes five days a week. When you are a Meals On Wheels volunteer, you are delivering much more than a hot meal – you are providing human connection.
One of the many benefits of volunteering is helping the growing population of Tampa’s homebound and senior neighbors continue to live independently in their own homes. Volunteers also offer caregivers and family members peace of mind that their loved ones will receive a meal, a friendly conversation, and a daily wellness check.
Responsibilities and Duties: Drivers are responsible for meeting the Meals On Wheels of Tampa truck at a pre-determined pick-up site and time to get the meals (which are in coolers and hot bags) and the route details. Drivers will deliver meals to everyone listed on their route sheet, calling the office before leaving a home if a recipient does not answer the door. Once all meals are delivered, volunteers return the delivery packaging items to the pick-up site and carry on with their day.
Qualification: Drivers use their own vehicle and gas and must carry the minimum auto insurance required by state law. Drivers must be 18 years of age, complete a volunteer application and pass a background check (at no cost to the volunteer).
Commitment Expected: A typical delivery shift takes 60-90 minutes to complete. Most routes cover just a few miles and average 8-12 stops. Volunteer as often as your schedule allows – weekly, bi-weekly, monthly.
Training: Drivers must attend a 1-hour orientation and training session. Currently, those training sessions are held every Friday via a conference call. One-on-one training sessions can be provided if Fridays do not work with your schedule.
Next Step: Next Step: Seniors in Service helps nonprofits throughout Tampa Bay find volunteers like you to help accomplish their mission. Fill out the form below and someone from Seniors in Service will contact you soon to walk you through the next steps to begin volunteering. In question 4, please include the words “Meals on Wheels Riverview/Gibson.”