Organization of choice: Meals on Wheels 

With an organization such as Meals on Wheels, volunteers are in for quite the experience. While delivering the meals these volunteers will encounter many different lifestyles, personalities, and environments. Volunteering with Meals on Wheels and traveling to different homes, the volunteers will become a provider, a friend, and for some the only visitor that person sees. 

What is their purpose/ mission? 

The purpose and mission of Meals on Wheels is to provide hot and healthy meals for seniors who cannot provide for themselves. Although this organization is called Meals on Wheels, it is also focused on providing services and support for the elderly. By doing this, this organization allows these individuals to stay in their homes instead of being in a nursing home or hospital. 

What services does the partner provide? 

Besides the warm nutritious meals, Meals on Wheels provides home repairs, a quick safety check, transportation, and pet food delivery. The volunteers are there to repair household products such as televisions and kitchen appliances. A quick safety check consists of making sure the senior is healthy and not in need of any medical care. They also provide pet food delivery. Meals on Wheels knows that pets are a large part of a household and the elderly may struggle providing for the animals, so the volunteer provides food and anything the pet needs. 

What needs of the community do they address? 

This organization addresses several needs of the community. One example would be hunger. This service provides nutritious meals to those who cannot make meals themselves. Meals on Wheels makes sure the seniors are eating healthy and have at least one complete and warm meal a day. It also addresses transportation. The volunteers will take the elderly anywhere they need to go instead of having them drive themselves. 

Why is this organization important to the community? 

Meals on Wheels is important to the community because of the services it provides. Without this organization, a majority of senior citizens would not be able to stay at home where they want to be. They would have to be in a facility where they are taken care of and supported. With this organization, it allows these individuals to stay home and have volunteers come when needed. These volunteers not only bring food, but they bring a human interaction. These homebound seniors do not get much interaction with other people, the volunteers provide a sense of friendship. 

Article / video: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/what-we-deliver

This article provides an idea of what Meals on Wheels stands for and their mission to make life for the elderly easier. They do this by taking pride in the organization and the volunteers they are surrounded with. 

After researching and reflecting on the goals and missions of Meals on Wheels, my opinions have definitely changed about the importance of health organizations. This organization has allowed me to see how important it is to volunteer and help whenever I can. Meals on Wheels deals with several health related topics such as care checks. I have realized that without these volunteers, the elderly involved with Meals on Wheels may never be checked on. This has made me realize that even volunteering a few days a week could make a difference in someone’s life. Stopping by someone’s house and checking to make sure they do not need medical help could save a life. This has made me understand the importance to volunteer and help when I can with health related organizations. 

How does this service relate to my intended career field? 

This organization is related to my intended career field, nursing. Meals on Wheels has similar values as nurses do. 

What Degree Program (other than your current major) could it relate to? 

One Degree Program that this organization could relate to is Social Work. 

Would you choose to pursue this major as your parallel major? 

Yes I would study Social Work as a parallel major. 

Why or why not? 

I would study Social Work as a parallel major because social workers make it a priority to help others and make a tangible difference in the community. Not only with children but with elderly, families, and anyone needing a little extra care.