Meals on Wheels Calls for Volunteers

Around 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, volunteers filter into the Gulfport Senior Center to donate their time and services with the Meals on Wheels Program through the Neighborly Care Network.

Matt Orlando has been volunteering for about three years and says he loves it.

"It's so gratifying. I love these people. Once you do it, you get hooked," he said.

Orlando says he looks forward to socializing and getting to know the homebound seniors who depend on the meals. He often asks them about historic events and life stories during his stops.

"Older people have so much knowledge," he said.

Orlando is one of about 35 volunteers currently helping with about 11 routes in Gulfport. Each route includes 8 to 14 meals people in the program.

Officials say they actually need 55 volunteers in Gulfport and that's why they're putting out a call for help. Orlando is even reaching into his own wallet to recruit volunteers, pledging to help pay for gas for a volunteer's first three trips.

"We need volunteers," he said.

Sandra Narron with the Neighborly Care Network, the organization that operates Meals on Wheels in Pinellas County, says they're serving up to 1,200 meals a day across the county. Narron says they're short on volunteers now and are likely going to lose 25% of their volunteers when people move up north this summer.

"Starting in May through August we lose a lot of volunteers," Narron said.

"Probably 5, 6, years ago we had 1,000 volunteers. Now we have 800 throughout Neighborly Care Network," Narron said.

There are 9 sites across Pinellas County and officials say they could use more volunteers at any of those locations.

If you are interested in volunteering at least once a week for two hours, please contact the Neighborly Care Network at (727) 573-9444, ect. 4210. If you are unable to volunteer, but would like to make a donation also call (727) 573-9444 or visit their website.

Volunteers in Gulfport

Larry Curry, 71, has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for 13 years.

"They needed help, I just got interested and volunteered. I think it's fullfilling, it's a way to do a little service. There's a lot of people who can't get out of their homes and sometimes we're the only one's that see them that day," he said.

Anna Zelner, 64, has been volunteering twice a week for the past 1 1/2 years.

"I like helping people and they depend on our meals," she said.

Jeff Sawyer helps with two deliveries a week but increases his time during the summer when the organization loses a lot of volunteers.

"It gets crazy in the summer, there aren't as many volunteers," he said.