Organizers of Summerland’s Meals on Wheels program would like to add a few more volunteer drivers to make deliveries.
Charlotte Burley, coordinator of the program, said there are 26 drivers, but most will deliver the meals in pairs.
“If we had half a dozen to a dozen more volunteers, it would make me really happy,” she said. “Right now we are not as flexible as I’d like us to be.”
The program delivers lunches to around 30 clients in Summerland on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Delivering the meals on a tight schedule and over a wide area within the community is a challenge for the drivers.
Burley schedules drivers to deliver meals one day a week, but some drivers are not available if they are away during the winter or hosting out-of-town visitors during the summer.
As a result, instead of having three delivery routes, the volunteer drivers are sometimes sent to deliver the meals in two routes. This results in rushed visits with the meal recipients.
Burley said the contact with the recipients is one of the rewarding aspects of the drivers’ responsibilities.
“You meet some absolutely amazing people,” she said. “The clients are very appreciative and the personal touch is crucial.”
Those interested in volunteering as drivers are asked to contact Burley at 250-494-1173.