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Small Acts, Big Impact: Celebrating Our Volunteers

Volunteers are at the heart of our work. Whether delivering meals, offering safety checks, noticing when something is “off,” or supporting meal packaging and socialization programs, they help sustain a system of care that reaches hundreds of older adults across our region.

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the people whose time and care make it possible for older adults to live with dignity, safety, and connection at home.

Volunteers Behind Every Mile

We support 375 homebound participants, most of whom are older adults living alone with chronic health conditions and disabilities. Volunteers are the ones who make sure they’re cared for. Here’s how:

• 500+ volunteers showed up to support the community last year
• Giving approximately 12,400 hours
• Driving 90,000 miles, often on familiar routes, growing relationships over time 
• Donating an estimated 3,350 gallons of fuel to keep services running consistently across our region

Together, we delivered approximately 86,000 meals in 2025, completed nearly 43,000 safety checks, and created countless moments of social connection.

But the real impact is not captured in numbers alone.

Jerry Matthews, a retiree who began volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic, describes how volunteers make a difference:

“Sometimes we’re the only person that they see all day,” he shared. “When we are doing the same route over and over, we get to know everyone and what they’re like, and notice when something is not quite right.”

He recalled noticing a participant who seemed unwell during a brief exchange. After the visit, he alerted the office, helping ensure the participant received medical attention. The participant was hospitalized and later recovered, thanks to Jerry.

Jimmy Kitchen, a Navy veteran who joined during the pandemic and has also helped participants in distress, reflects simply: “It’s the right thing to do, and it’s an honor to be here.”

What the Research Shows

These experiences align with strong research evidence showing that volunteering is associated with improved wellbeing, including higher life satisfaction, reduced depression, and a greater sense of purpose.

Studies further show benefits for physical health, including increased physical activity and reduced mortality risk over time. Importantly, social connection is often the mechanism that drives many of these outcomes, as volunteering builds relationships that support wellbeing on multiple levels.

“Meals on Wheels is a small decision that changed my life,” says longtime volunteer Anna Osborne. “It’s such a good feeling to bring people nourishment. It’s a basic human need, and it always goes beyond that to see the smiles on their faces. Meals on Wheels is a win-win. I think it’s important to make friends from other generations. I have learned a lot from the people I’ve delivered to.”

Her experience reflects what the research consistently shows: volunteering strengthens connection, and connection strengthens health. In helping their homebound neighbors, our volunteers are also helped in return.

The Impact of Collective Care

In 2025, a majority of participants lived alone on limited fixed incomes. About 50,000 meals were made possible through grants, donations, and the help of our volunteers, underscoring the importance of continued community support.

Volunteers also supported additional services, including pet care assistance through PAWS, grocery support through Closing the GAP, birthday recognitions, and emergency meal boxes during extreme weather.

Through partnerships and with the help of dedicated meal packaging volunteers, we delivered an additional 13,900 meals to congregate and homebound seniors across the region. That’s nearly 100,000 meals made possible by our community.

A Work That Continues Because of You

This work is sustained by people who choose to show up, day after day, mile after mile. Volunteers are not just part of the program. They are the heart of it, necessary and vital to our neighbors’ health and well-being.

During National Volunteer Week, we extend our deepest gratitude to every volunteer who helps ensure that older adults in our community are seen, supported, and never alone. As Anna says, “It’s a win-win.”

Further Reading:

Nichol, B., Wilson, R., Rodrigues, A., & Haighton, C. (2023). Exploring the effects of Volunteering on the social, mental, and physical Health and Well-being of volunteers: An umbrella review. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 35(1).

Delivery Volunteering | Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake. (2024, April 23). Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake.