Severe Volunteer Shortage Causes Change in for Home Bound Senior Meals In Dubuque

posted 11/9/2016 in Press Releases

Home delivered meal recipients in the Dubuque area will not be delivered a hot meal on Thursday or Friday, November 10 and 11 due to a severe shortage of volunteers to help deliver meals.  Instead, on Wednesday, November 8, along with their hot meal, home delivered meal recipients will be given two frozen meals for the remainder of the week. Hot meals will be delivered again starting on Monday, November 14.

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) delivers hundreds of meals to home bound seniors throughout Northeast Iowa Monday through Friday. The agency relies on volunteers to help deliver these meals.

“Unfortunately, in the Dubuque area the agency is experiencing a shortage of volunteers and we are unable to deliver hot meals to all participants on a daily basis,” stated Greg Zars, Chief Operating Officer for NEI3A.  “The volunteers we do have continue to go above and beyond to serve meals, we just simply do not have enough volunteers to meet the need.  We are working to recruit more volunteers and hope to have daily hot meals again soon.”

Individuals, groups, or businesses are welcome to volunteer. Time commitment is about 1 ½ hours per route. Each route takes two volunteers, one to drive and one to deliver the meal to the door.  NEI3A encourages community members to volunteer as often as they are able, whether it is once a month or once a week. Every little bit helps.

“For many of these home bound seniors, receiving these meals is more than getting a hot, nutritious meal, it is the one connection they have throughout their day,” stated Zars.

Be that connection for the home bound seniors and support your community. Volunteer today! To volunteer or find out more information please contact NEI3A’s Dubuque office at 563-588-2941.