Volunteer in Your Community
Delivering and Serving Kindness
Make a difference in a senior’s life and help us bring quality care to all the seniors in our community. We offer a variety of ongoing volunteer opportunities!
Volunteer Opportunities
Meal Delivery
Kitchen Assistance
Dining Site Support
Administrative Support
Special Events
Apply Today!
To get started, create a new account and follow the prompts to select your preferred volunteer roles.
Why Volunteer?
Make a Difference
Your time helps provide meals and social connection, improving the quality of life for those who need it most.
Flexible Hours
Meet New People
Connect with a supportive network of caring individuals in your community.
Hear From Our Local Volunteers
Ray’s Why – Finding Purpose, Connection, and Joy for 20 Years
For nearly two decades, 93-year-old Ray has been a dedicated volunteer with Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, delivering meals and companionship to seniors in his community. Ray believes that dedicating just an hour of his day to this cause brings joy to those he serves and gives him a sense of purpose.
Gwen & Chuck’s Why – Serving with a Smile
Gwen and Chuck, a retired couple from Pasco, have found purpose and joy in volunteering at Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, building meaningful relationships with the seniors they serve. They encourage others to experience the same fulfillment through volunteering, making a difference in their community one meal at a time.
Diane’s Why – Making a Difference Large or Small
Diane volunteers with Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels to give back, build meaningful connections, and bring joy to seniors—especially with the help of her grandsons, Brian and Mathew. Together, they deliver more than just meals; they provide companionship, kindness, and even life-saving wellness checks. For Diane, volunteering is a family effort that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
Josie & Wright’s Why – Creating Community
Josie and Wright found a sense of purpose in retirement by volunteering with Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels. They volunteer because they believe in giving back to a community that has given so much to them, ensuring seniors receive not just nourishment but also companionship and care. Their story is a testament to the impact of small acts of service, and they encourage others to get involved.
Marilyn’s Why – Cooking Up Kindness
Marilyn has been a dedicated volunteer at Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels since 2021, making a lasting impact on both clients and fellow volunteers. Why Marilyn volunteers is a reminder that volunteering not only helps others but also brings joy and purpose to your own life.
Ameera’s Why – Paying it Forward
Ameera volunteers with Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels because she believes in giving back and building a strong community. Every Friday, she delivers meals and shares meaningful moments with local seniors, finding joy and fulfillment in the connections she makes. She encourages others to volunteer, knowing that helping others also brings personal growth and purpose.
Become a Volunteer Today!
Are you ready to make a difference in your community? Can you give your time and help others in need?
Join the Meals on Wheels team and experience the fulfillment that comes from serving others.
To get started, create a new account and follow the prompts to select your preferred volunteer roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the most frequently needed volunteer roles to fill is delivering meals and friendly greetings to homebound seniors. This volunteer role is approximately 1.5 hours in length. At 10:45 am the volunteer driver picks up the meals at a Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels dining site in the town where they are delivering and takes the meals to clients between 11:00 am-12:00 pm. The driver returns the list of clients and the delivery equipment to the dining site at approximately 12:15 pm. Other key volunteer roles are packaging and sealing meals in the central kitchen (located in Richland, WA) or serving a mid-day meal at one of Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels eight dining sites in Benton and Franklin Counties.
We can set up a volunteer schedule that works with yours. Whether that be once a week, once a month or as needed.
Volunteering with Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels is flexible to fit your schedule. For meal delivery drivers and dining site support, it typically takes only 1.5 hours to serve those who need us most. Meal packaging and serving shifts are 2-3 hours in length. For other volunteer roles, such as special events and administrative support, volunteer shift time is “as needed” and varies based upon each event. For more information, contact our Volunteer Program Manager.
Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form* and our Volunteer Program Manager will follow up with you in 2 business days to get you started.
*You will need to create an account and follow the prompts to select your preferred volunteer roles.
Washington State law required all Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels volunteers and staff members to complete a criminal background check. Home-delivery and transport drivers need to complete a short, driving record attestation and allow their driving record to be reviewed. For volunteers packaging or serving meals a Washington State Food Handler’s Permit is required. Once these requirements have been fulfilled new volunteers will meet with the Volunteer Program Manager for orientation.
Schedules are typically flexible with appropriate notice. Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels utilizes Volunteer Hub for the facilitation of scheduling. For more information, please contact our Volunteer Program Manager.
The current recruitment efforts for Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels are, in part, thanks to a grant from Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington and AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP.
The AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program pairs thousands of Americans aged 55 and older with organizations making change in communities across the country.
“
We volunteer because we think of our own mothers, and they hope that someone would care enough to take the time to reach out to them and love them as much as they do.”
“
I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to be a contributor to this wonderful organization. The time I have spent delivering food to others has given me a gratifying sense of compassion that I will always remember.”
