Every weekday morning, before most of LaPorte County has finished their first cup of coffee, a group of volunteers arrives at the Meals on Wheels kitchen at 301 East 8th Street in Michigan City. They check the route sheets, load insulated carriers into their cars, and head out to deliver hot meals to homebound seniors across the county. Rain or shine, summer heat or January snow — they show up.
Many of these volunteers are part of the RSVP program — the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, a national initiative that connects adults aged 55 and older with meaningful service opportunities in their communities. At Meals on Wheels LaPorte County, RSVP volunteers form the backbone of the delivery operation. Without them, the more than 100,000 meals served each year simply would not reach the people who need them.
The volunteers range in age from their mid-fifties to their eighties, and many have been delivering meals for years — some for well over a decade. They know their routes by heart. They remember each client’s name, their dog’s name, which door to use, who likes to chat and who prefers a quick hello. That kind of personal knowledge turns a simple meal delivery into something far more valuable: a daily wellness check.
And those wellness checks save lives. Volunteers are often the first to notice when something is wrong — a newspaper piling up on the porch, a client who doesn’t come to the door, a change in behavior or appearance that signals a health issue. They report concerns to the office immediately, and more than once, a volunteer’s observation has triggered a welfare check that arrived just in time. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Meals on Wheels volunteers are a lifeline — sometimes literally.
“I started volunteering because I had the time and wanted to help. But I keep coming back because of the people. They wait for us at the door. We’re not just dropping off food — we’re their daily visitor, and for some of them, we’re the only person they’ll see all day. That kind of connection — it changes you. I get more out of this than I give, and I give a lot.”
A 12-year RSVP volunteer
The commitment required is modest but meaningful. A typical delivery route takes about an hour and covers between 8 and 15 stops, depending on the area. Training is provided, and new volunteers are paired with experienced drivers for their first few runs. Most volunteers deliver one or two days a week, though some do more. The schedule is flexible, and the organization works with each volunteer to find a routine that fits their life.
What’s harder to describe is the way the work gets under your skin. Volunteers talk about clients who have become friends, about the satisfaction of knowing their hour made a real difference in someone’s day, about the quiet gratitude in a wave through a window. In a world that can feel disconnected, delivering meals is one of the most direct, human things you can do for your neighbor.
Meals on Wheels LaPorte County is always looking for new volunteers to join the delivery team. Whether you can spare one morning a week or five, your time makes a direct impact on seniors in your community. Learn more about volunteering or contact us to sign up. No experience necessary — just a car, a kind heart, and about an hour of your day.
