August 25, 2022. FAYETTEVILLE, GA. Fayette Senior Services, Inc. (FSS), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is currently recruiting volunteers to deliver meals for their Meals On Wheels (MOW) program. FSS is the home of the Meals On Wheels program for Fayette County, serving seniors in our local community. This exceptional program is the difference for individuals being able to remain in their homes by providing a simple yet delicious, healthy and nutritious meal during a friendly visit and daily check-in. Due to the increasing demand of Meals On Wheels requests in Fayette County, Fayette Senior Services’ has added an additional route to their existing 15 weekly routes. More volunteers are needed to accommodate the increase in deliveries and routes based on requests to receive meals through this invaluable program, made possible only by the support of volunteers! Carol Davis, a current MOW volunteer, shared what it means to her to give back to this program and those receiving meals. “I’ve discovered that there is a real need in our county to share what we have with others. There are people in our community hidden to us. These include homebound seniors, people living with disabilities, and those living alone. You are not only delivering meals, you’re delivering compassion and kindness. Many people are isolated and you might be the only one they see that day. I try to greet each client as if they’re good friends. The smiles on the faces of those I encounter are more than enough reward for me. I’m hoping I leave them knowing that they are loved by others,” she expressed.
Currently, FSS has 9 total routes needing volunteer drivers – 2 routes on Monday, 3 routes on Tuesday, 1 route on Wednesday, and 3 routes on Friday. A Meals On Wheels volunteer is categorized as a driver, who commits to a specific route and runs that route weekly or a substitute driver, who fills in when a committed driver is unavailable. Each route takes approximately 1-2 hours. FSS makes adopting a route simple by providing detailed directions for each route in addition to what meals are being delivered and tips for the best way to interact with each client. “The individuals who volunteer with Meals On Wheels are truly the heart of the program. We couldn’t do it without each one,” expressed Carrie Bittinger, Meals On Wheels and Volunteer Coordinator. Without these generous individuals, it would be nearly impossible to deliver so many meals to MOW clients daily. Volunteers offer companionship and a watchful eye and often times are the only contact some clients may have during the day. Their desire for helping others not only makes a difference in the program itself, but more importantly in the lives of those receiving this invaluable service. In addition to individuals volunteering, many groups will form teams among a family or friend group or a business and organization and adopt a route together. This allows a commitment from the team to deliver meals weekly, but provides the option for an individual to only commit every few weeks, depending on the schedule they determine among themselves as a team.
Each year, a team of dedicated volunteers deliver over 56,000 meals to more than 300 homebound and semi-homebound older adults who reside throughout Fayette County. This effort is a dynamic partnership between the national network of local programs and the businesses, organizations, governments, and volunteers who contribute generously to their communities. To make a difference in the lives of others, join our team of Meals On Wheels volunteers! For those interested in volunteering, please reach out to Carrie Bittinger at cbittinger@fayss.org or 770-461-0813 for more information. Together, we can deliver a difference!
For over four decades, Fayette Senior Services, Inc. (FSS), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been making a meaningful difference in the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older adults. FSS’ Meals On Wheels program is nationally accredited through Meals On Wheels America (MOWA) and is a founding member of Meals On Wheels Association of Georgia (MOWAG). For more information on Fayette Senior Services, to learn more about Meals On Wheels, or if you have an interest in becoming a Meals On Wheels volunteer, please visit www.fayss.org or call 770-461-0813.
