Volunteers serve a critical role in helping us serve our homebound neighbors by conducting socially-distanced wellness checks and delivering meals, needed household items and toiletries, as well as cards and activity books to brighten the days of our clients. In all we do, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels seeks to be "More than a Meal®."
Get Involved
Knowing how important good nutrition and social interaction are to health and well-being, AAMOW staff and volunteers work together to provide nutritiously balanced meals and carry out safety and wellness checks for all of our clients.
Volunteers report back any concerns they have to Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels staff who then follow up with the client and their emergency contact(s), as needed. For many of our clients, a volunteer is the only person they see all day.
3621 S. State Street, Ste. 650
Ann Arbor MI, 48108
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Voicemail monitored 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: In-office 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Meal delivery volunteers serve a critical role in our program and in the lives of our homebound neighbors. Volunteers choose the day (currently Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, substitute) for volunteering. Meals are picked up at the Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels office at 11:30 am, volunteers use their own vehicles to deliver meals, and routes typically take 1-2 hours to complete.
We continue to need volunteers to help us deliver more than 700 meals to our homebound neighbors each delivery day. In order to keep our volunteers, clients and staff as safe and healthy as possible in the midst of COVID-19, we have adjusted several components of our daily operations in alignment with public health guidance. More detailed information can be found below and by attending a new volunteer orientation.
Volunteer requirements:
- Complete AAMOW’s volunteer onboarding process, which starts with the submission of an online application
- Drivers must be 18 years of age (under 18 can volunteer if accompanied by an adult) and kids are welcome
- Provide your own vehicle for delivering
- Maintain a valid driver's license (if driving) and vehicle insurance
- Commit to delivering at least ten times over the course of a year (preferably once/month, if possible)
- Receive a flu shot in order to deliver during flu season
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in alignment with Michigan Medicine's policy
- Utilize the ResponsiBLUE COVID-19 screening tool prior to coming to the office
- Wear a mask throughout your time at the AAMOW office, including in the AAMOW parking lot
Following submission of a volunteer application, applicants will receive an email outlining next steps in the onboarding process.
This volunteer opportunity is currently suspended due to COVID-19.
AAMOW welcomes handwritten greeting/encouraging (non-religious) cards and decorated placemats to send to our clients with their meal deliveries. Any quantity is appreciated, and cards/placemats do not need to be in envelopes or signed. Donations can be mailed to the AAMOW office or left in the purple donation bin inside our office foyer any day of the week.
AAMOW has a personal care items pantry that clients are able to access free of charge, and items are delivered with their meals. Donations of the following items are needed:
- Individually wrapped rolls of paper towel
- Individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper
- Boxes of tissues
- Free and clear liquid laundry detergent
- Free and clear liquid fabric softener
- Antibacterial hand soap (minimally scented)
- Antibacterial dish soap (minimally scented)
- Antibacterial bar soap (minimally scented)
New/unused household item/toiletry donations can be mailed to the AAMOW office or left in the purple donation bin inside our office foyer any day of the week.
The AAMOW Community Engagement Group (CEG) is open to AAMOW clients, volunteers, community members/partners, food providers, family members/friends of clients, caregivers, etc. The CEG has quarterly meetings that serve has a platform for AAMOW to provide updates to our community on current and upcoming programming, services, and events; garner feedback on a variety of topics from our stakeholders; brainstorm ideas together for AAMOW; and more.
Please contact the AAMOW Director, Courtney Vanderlaan, at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more.
