Explore our volunteer opportunities.
Volunteers are the absolute heart of Meals on Wheels of Pasco. Our caring and compassionate individuals deliver hot, healthy meals to recipients' homes five days a week, making it possible for Pasco's growing population of homebound seniors to continue living independently.
Beyond the meal, volunteers offer peace of mind to caregivers, providing a friendly conversation and a crucial daily safety check. We invite generous community members, students, and corporate partners to join us in serving hope, as our success depends on the whole community helping to package and deliver these vital meals. The individual connection each volunteer makes is as nourishing as the food provided, and whether you can give your time once a week or once a month, your support is invaluable to fulfilling our mission and impacting hundreds of lives every single day.
"Providing Nourishment, Comfort, & Support to help our homebound & seniors live independently."
Deliver Meals as a Volunteer Driver!
Volunteers are the vital force behind Meals on Wheels of Pasco.
Our caring and compassionate team delivers hot, healthy meals directly to recipients' homes five days a week. By volunteering, you help Pasco's growing population of homebound and senior members maintain their independence.
You also give caregivers and family members peace of mind, knowing their loved ones receive a nourishing meal, a friendly conversation, and a daily safety check.
Get started today by completing the Volunteer Application:
Volunteering with Meals On Wheels of Pasco delivers vital benefits that powerfully impact our community's most vulnerable seniors. You provide essential nutrition, acting as a crucial daily safety check and a defense against isolation for homebound neighbors who often see no one else. By dedicating your time, you are directly enabling seniors to live independently, with dignity, and strengthening the overall well-being of the Pasco community.
For the volunteer, the experience is deeply fulfilling. You gain a wonderful sense of purpose and the opportunity to build genuine, meaningful connections with both the clients you serve and fellow volunteers.
All volunteer drivers must be 18 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, an automobile, proof of auto insurance, and agree to a background check.
**Please Note: If you have court ordered community service hours, please do not complete this volunteer application. Court order hours must be supervised hours. Call our office at 813-782-7859 and we will instruct you on how to start that process.
Delivery is available in the Zephyrhills area and select parts of Dade City. Contact the office at 813-782-7859 to confirm service in your specific location.
We prioritize your comfort and confidence when starting. Typically, a team member or experienced volunteer will accompany you for your first couple of deliveries. This shadowing process helps you become fully comfortable and familiar with your assigned route before driving it on your own.
We design our routes to be as efficient as possible. While traffic and specific route distances may cause slight variations, you can generally plan on a one-hour commitment for your driving shift. This time frame is based on the typical route size of 10 to 15 meals to be delivered.
Meals On Wheels of Pasco currently operates 11 delivery routes that volunteers drive five days a week. We carefully assign routes based on the current meal delivery needs and the volunteer driver's availability. To ensure a smooth experience, we provide detailed driving directions, complete with pictures and landmark indicators, making it easy to locate each client's home.
Our first priority during a storm is both your safety and the safety of our recipients. Meals On Wheels may cancel delivery if the weather is hazardous and/or there is flooding. Scheduled volunteers will receive a call to notify volunteers if service is canceled for that day.
There is no minimum time commitment to volunteer.
No, we do not deliver meals on weekends.
Volunteer in Our Kitchen or Pantry: Support Meals from the Inside!
While our volunteer drivers deliver the meals, the true heart of the operation is right here in our kitchen and pantry! We rely on caring and dedicated individuals to help us prepare, package, and organize the hot, healthy meals delivered to our homebound neighbors in Pasco.
By volunteering in our facility, you are directly contributing to the quality and consistency of every meal. This critical support allows Pasco's seniors and homebound community members to maintain their independence and receive vital daily nourishment. Join us where the magic happens—no driving required!
Get started today by completing the Volunteer Application:
Volunteering with Meals On Wheels of Pasco delivers vital benefits that powerfully impact our community's most vulnerable seniors. You provide essential nutrition, acting as a crucial daily safety check and a defense against isolation for homebound neighbors who often see no one else. By dedicating your time, you are directly enabling seniors to live independently, with dignity, and strengthening the overall well-being of the Pasco community.
For the volunteer, the experience is deeply fulfilling. You gain a wonderful sense of purpose and the opportunity to build genuine, meaningful connections with both the clients you serve and fellow volunteers.
Do you have weekend volunteer opportunities?
No, we do not deliver meals on weekends.
Kitchen Shifts Pantry Shifts (Meal Prep/Packaging): Shifts usually run on weekday mornings, typically starting around 8:00 AM and ending between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, depending on the volume of meals.
Kitchen Duties:
Washing and chopping vegetables.
Measuring and mixing ingredients.
Packaging hot and cold meals into containers.
Washing dishes and sanitizing food preparation areas.
Pantry Duties:
Sorting and organizing donated non-perishable food items.
Checking expiration dates.
Stocking shelves and refrigerators/freezers.
Preparing grocery bags or boxes for client delivery.
No prior professional cooking experience is required! Most tasks involve simple food prep and assembly. You will receive on-site training from our kitchen staff on proper food handling, hygiene, and specific meal-packaging procedures.
* All volunteers must follow strict health and safety guidelines to ensure food safety for our clients.
Clothing: Please wear comfortable, clean clothes. T-shirts and long pants are generally best. Avoid loose-fitting sleeves or dangling jewelry.
Shoes: Closed-toe, non-slip shoes are mandatory for safety in the kitchen.
Safety Gear: We will provide you with a hairnet/hat, gloves, and an apron, which must be worn at all times in the food preparation areas.
There is no minimum time commitment to volunteer.
Beyond the Route: Other Ways to Help
Not all help involves driving! You can support our mission by volunteering in the office, assisting with organizing special events, or with logistics. These vital roles keep our operations running smoothly:
Administrative & Office Support: Assist with essential office tasks like data entry, filing and organizing documents and preparing mailings.
Charity Events: Help us by assisting with setting up, or working at special events, community drives, and volunteer appreciation functions.
Logistics & Support: Provide crucial assistance by packing meals for drivers, washing and sanitizing coolers and equipment, and organizing seasonal or special deliveries (like holiday gifts or emergency packs).
If you are interested in participating in any of these opportunities, please call the office at 813-782-7859 for further details.
