Meals on Wheels in Davis County faces shortage of volunteers as demand for meal help rises

“Our older adult community is growing,” Rachelle Blackham, Davis County’s Senior Services Director explained. “We need about 20 volunteers a day to help us throughout those three centers. And unfortunately, different things have kept individuals from being able to volunteer.”

Blackham said the program ideally needs about 20 to 30 more volunteers to keep up with demand that she believes is going up in part because of the increasing cost of groceries. At the same time, those cost increases are adding to the program’s challenges.

Blackham said anyone 18 and older can volunteer. Deliveries are made from county-owned vehicles, but volunteers do not necessarily need to drive as they head out on their routes in teams of two. They’d also like volunteers to commit to at least one day a week, from about 9:30am to 12:30pm. Kettell said in addition to helping other people, the time he spends with Meals on Wheels helps him too.

Many of the clients look forward to the social interaction, as some do not get many visitors.

“When I see them, It makes me feel like they’re my second family,” Bonnie Carter said, after receiving a meal at her home in Clearfield. “And it helps me with meals, that sometimes we don’t get to eat. It helps us have a meal for the day.”

“Please take the time. Only a couple hours a day to help us out,” Carter said. “We need all that you can help. Please come and help us out. We need you.”