Erie’s Meals on Wheels needs more volunteer drivers. How you can help

Meals on Wheels Erie delivers nutritious food to 244 Erie County residents, the most in the nonprofit’s history.

So many people 60 and older, or who have disabilities, are seeking its services that Meals on Wheels needs between 15 and 25 additional volunteer drivers to ensure everybody who qualifies for meals can get them delivered. About 120 people currently drive for the nonprofit, including substitutes.

“Three of four of our routes are at full capacity right now, where we couldn’t add another stop,” said Jennifer Hoffman, Meals on Wheels executive director. “Each route needs five volunteers, one to drive each weekday.”

About 15% of the regular drivers currently volunteer multiple days a week, including many of the substitute drivers, Hoffman added.

If more drivers aren’t found, Hoffman and her staff will have to place new clients on a waiting list to receive meals. She had to start a list over the summer for a short period of time.

Many more clients might soon need meals, Hoffman said. One of the region’s health insurers plans to launch a Community HealthChoices program, which coordinates health coverage for people who receive both Medicare and Medicaid.

Those on the program are eligible for Meals on Wheels at no cost.

“UPMC has a Community HealthChoices program and we serve about 100 of their clients,” Hoffman said. “We expect to see 50, 60 or maybe 70 more requests when this insurer launches its program.”

Hoffman asked that the insurer not be named because it hasn’t yet announced the program’s launch. Additional clients will likely come from a recent grant to Meals on Wheels from the Erie Women’s Fund.

How can I become a Meals on Wheels driver?

People can become a volunteer driver by visiting the Meals on Wheels website. They must have a valid driver’s license, car insurance, reliable vehicle and pass a background check.

Meals are picked up weekdays at 9:30 a.m. at the LECOM Senior Living Center, 5535 Peach St., and delivered throughout the Erie area late weekday mornings.

“We ask our volunteers to knock on the doors and hand the meals to the person,” Hoffman said. “Sometimes we are the only person the client sees all day. If no one answers, our volunteer is supposed to tell us and we call the client. If no one answers the phone, we reach out to their emergency contact.”