Meet a Volunteer

Volunteers Share How They Got Involved and Why They Stay

Our family of more than 260 volunteers comes from all corners of L.A. and all walks of life, but as volunteers they share common experiences. Hear their stories about why they got involved and what keeps them dedicated to our mission.

Sandra
Volunteer Kitchen Helper and Meal Runner
"I'm here every Sunday. I volunteer because my mother was a Meals on Wheels client and now I want to help others."

"The most touching thing about working here is the concern every runner has for his or her clients. These people not only deliver meals, they help lift and move things…they spend extra time with those who are lonely—and they’re truly concerned when clients don’t open the door. It’s heartwarming to see the smiling faces of the people we deliver to and to know that we make the difference."

Ann
Volunteer Meal Runner and Driver, Member of Cuisine à Roulettes
"I got involved as a donor and made a memorial contribution in my grandparents'names. When I retired this year, I wanted to volunteer somewhere, and I already felt connected to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels."

"I come every Tuesday, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. The clients are so happy to see me. And they thank me and say 'bless you.' One day a client took a long time to answer his door. When he got there, he gave me a beautiful smile and apologized sweetly for taking so long. Then I realized he was blind. I also realized that if he could be so pleasant in this situation, I have nothing to complain about.

"Writing a check to this program is great, but by volunteering, I get to see the results of my giving."

Ralph
Volunteer Meal Runner and Driver
"My favorite aunt was a Meals on Wheels volunteer in St. Louis. When she died, I got involved with St. Vincent. Part of my motivation was a tribute to her…part was to do what I wasn't able to do to help my own relatives when I was younger."

"This work is very gratifying to me. My route is in the Mid-city area, and I don’t mind climbing the stairs in the Park La Brea high-rises when the elevators are down. I've made a commitment to do this once a week now that I've retired, and it feels good."

Betsy and Her "Boys" Go the Extra Mile Every Sunday mmm

Every Sunday, Betsy and two of her sons deliver Meals on Wheels to clients in Park La Brea and the surrounding community. Most weeks, she's accompanied by Bob, 19, and Rick, 22. If one of them can’t make it, her third son, 27-year-old Raymond, steps in.

After six years of volunteering, this family demonstrates a selflessness and loyalty that warms one’s heart.

Park La Brea's high-rise apartment buildings present Betsy, Bob, Rick and Ray with special challenges. At times, the elevators don’t work, so they must climb many flights of steps to deliver their meals.

Sometimes the help they deliver goes beyond hot meals and warm greetings. Once they heard a client calling through a locked door. After they got a security officer to open the door, they found an elderly woman who had fallen out of her wheelchair and was lying on the floor in diabetic shock.

"We got an ambulance and sent her to the hospital," Betsy said, "but I kept wondering what would have happened if we weren’t there to help."

"It's nice to help older people because we’re all going to get old," Betsy said. "I like my kids to help people who are less fortunate to remind them how fortunate they are."

"As for myself, I volunteer because it makes me feel good. It's just not a Sunday for me unless I deliver meals. Yes, I get invited to do other things on Sundays, but I just tell people I'm blocked. I've made a commitment and plan on keeping it."

The Simlers Give Clients a Sense of Family mmmm
Last October, Olivia Simler of Santa Monica saw an announcement on TV that St. Vincent was looking for volunteers. Since then, Olivia, her husband David, and their daughter Jenny have come almost every Sunday to deliver meals to the 28 clients on our Route J.

"We wanted to volunteer as a family on weekends and Meals on Wheels is a perfect fit," said Olivia. "Not only do we all get a great feeling, we're teaching our daughter about compassion for others."

On their regular Sunday visits, the Simlers give clients a sense of family. Olivia and David take turns driving and delivering meals, so they and Jenny can each spend time with their favorite clients. One client looks forward to their visits so much, he waits on the sidewalk to greet the entire family.

Ten-year-old Jenny loves animals, so she especially enjoys visiting the clients who have pets. "Sometimes I bring a friend along and they like it too," said Jenny.

"You have to give back, and we find this is a satisfying way to do it," said David. "We're the only contact many clients have with the outside world, so we really feel like we're making a difference. When people hear we’re here every Sunday, they think it's a big deal, but its not. We look forward to it."

"The Simlers are an important part of our family," said Sister Alice Marie. "Our clients especially like seeing families with children. We wish we had more like them."

Shelia and Chuck Fulfill a Client’s Fondest Wish mmm
As long-time supporters and meal delivery volunteers, Sheila and Chuck Binkley are special friends of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels. And what began as a special friendship with one meal delivery client and her beloved cat ended up touching all of their lives in a deeply personal way.

Marjorie was in her 80s when Sheila and Chuck first began delivering meals to her small book-filled L.A. apartment about five years ago. A widow with no children, Marjorie had difficulty walking and rarely left her home. Her greatest pleasure in life was her cat Milton, and she enjoyed her weekly visits with Chuck. "Being a cat person, I always made a fuss over Milton when I delivered Marjorie’s meals," said Chuck. "And because I was usually the only person Marjorie would see that day, I would always stay and talk for a little while."

One day Chuck found Marjorie crying. Her health was failing, and she knew she would need to enter a care facility soon, but she was worried about what would happen to Milton. All she wanted was for him to go to a loving home. "Sheila and I decided that we would adopt Milton when the time came, which gave Marjorie peace of mind," said Chuck. "One day we got a call…Marjorie said she couldn’t walk so we went right over, called her doctor and took her to the hospital. She didn’t have anybody else to help. We took Milton home and continued to visit her in the hospital. Once she moved to an assisted living facility, we continued to visit her there."

For the past three years, Milton has been doing great in his new home, and Marjorie enjoyed hearing about him during their visits. Sadly, Marjorie passed away, but Sheila and Chuck were glad that they could be there to help her when she needed it most. "Being part of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels has been a revelation to us," said Sheila. "It makes us feel good and appreciate what we have, and it's a privilege to be part of our clients' lives. They’re an inspiration to us."