March 28, 2025
Volunteers Share Their Meal Delivery Testimonies
For 53 years, the heart of our volunteers has kept Meals on Wheels Central Texas strong. In celebration of National Volunteer Month this April, we would like to highlight a few amazing volunteers and their experiences in supporting our mission.
Rae and Frank Rader are two volunteers who found their way to Meals on Wheels Central Texas because our mission spoke to their hearts. The two feel passionate about supporting causes addressing homelessness and hunger relief.
After moving from Phoenix to Austin three years ago to be closer to family, the two were looking for a way to get involved in their community. In delivering meals to our homebound neighbors, they found a way to connect with others while supporting food security.
“We’ve got to know our neighbors and look forward to seeing them each week. It has been truly rewarding serving our community in this way.”- Rae
Whether you make a one-time delivery or have a scheduled meal delivery route, your dedication allows us to accomplish our mission. In the last year, 3,061 volunteers donated 90,296 hours of their time—a cost savings of $2,937,761. These savings are put back into the programs that support our neighbors’ well-being.
On top of savings, volunteers make a meaningful impact within the local community. As many neighbors live alone and the vast majority are homebound, volunteers are often the only social interaction they have in a day. Every moment of connection matters.
April Floyd, another amazing volunteer, first learned about Meals on Wheels through her parents. They were delivering meals well into their retirement in Southern California. Today, April keeps the family tradition alive, delivering alongside her husband or with her church group every other Thursday.
“Once when I was substituting, I discovered I was delivering to people who lived on my own street that I had never met before. It was good because I finally got to know them.” - April
We appreciate learning how our volunteers find their way to our organization. Sometimes volunteers join us after experiencing the impact of our programs in their own lives. One volunteer, George Ibarra, learned about Meals on Wheels Central Texas because his mother was receiving care from our organization.
“Mike’s Place at Meals on Wheels Central Texas helped my mother as she navigated Alzheimer’s Disease.”- George
Today, George returns the care by delivering meals to our homebound neighbors. He tells us he enjoys “giving back in whatever way he can.”
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Their compassion, commitment, and care creates positive change in our Central Texas community.
Help Us Nourish Neighbors Through the Summer
There’s never been a more critical time to deliver lifesaving care to older adults and people living with disabilities in our region. During the summertime, burdens like hunger, safety concerns, and isolation increase for homebound neighbors. In addition to this, our volunteer ranks tend to dwindle during this season.
Time and again, you have showed up for our neighbors. We welcome returning and new volunteers to join us this summer. Please support this care and sign up to deliver nutritious meals and friendly smiles to older adults who depend on it!
Save The Date: Volunteer Appreciation Celebration
Join us in celebrating our volunteers—the heart of our organization! Bring your families, children, and grandchildren for free food, games, and good company. Please RSVP for the Volunteer Appreciation Celebration by April 25, 2025.
Date: May 03, 2025
Location 3227 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702
Time: 11 AM - 2PM
Want to share a message of appreciation with our volunteers? Write a message of gratitude, appreciation, and thanks to our volunteers with a post on this Kudosboard. We will share your well-wishes with our volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 21-25).
Thank you for showing your support for the great work our volunteers do every day!