Home Delivery: Volunteer Shift Spotlight
The Home Delivery Program currently serves approximately 25 seniors across Oak Park and River Forest, delivering tailored groceries once per month to seniors in their homes. Coordinating the bagging and delivering of 50 pounds of food to 25 seniors takes a lot of manpower, as you might imagine.
Natalie, said this about volunteering for the program, “I can tell [the seniors] enjoy talking with someone. I enjoy dropping off and seeing how happy they are to receive the food.”
As part of the program, there are three volunteer shifts: Calling, Bagging, and Delivery. To sign up, click Vic. Not a volunteer yet, attend the next volunteer Orientation.
Calling
The Wednesday before delivery, volunteers call seniors to walk through the month’s grocery menu, allowing seniors to select their groceries.
This shift is from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Bagging
On delivery day, volunteers “shop” for each of the seniors, using a list to select the items the seniors requested.
This shift is from 12:30 - 2:00 pm, 2nd Thursday of the month.
Delivery
A separate group of volunteers then drive on a designated route, delivering groceries to seniors. This shift is a unique way to interact with Food Pantry clients, one-on-one, in their homes. This shift is done in pairs and is great to do with a son, daughter, spouse, or fellow volunteer!
This shift is from 1:45 - 4:00 pm, 2nd Thursday of the Month.
For more information about volunteering for the Home Delivery Program, contact Adriana.
Note, Home Delivery participants are enrolled to the program through Oak Park Township’s Meals on Wheels program. The Pantry does not directly enroll participants into the program.