In the spring of 2014, Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services faced a pressing challenge: they required a dependable volunteer group to cover Meals on Wheels routes during the summer months.
At that time, Norma Harris, the then director of the College of Social Work’s Social Research Institute, along with Researcher Mary Beth Vogel-Ferguson, took the initiative to organize a volunteer effort within the college.
They enthusiastically rallied faculty and staff members to deliver meals to older adults living in the nearby Avenues neighborhoods.
Fast forward eleven years, and the commitment remains strong: faculty and staff volunteers from the College of Social Work still deliver meals along the same route.
“We just kept doing it. You get attached to folks when you see them a couple of times a month. It’s a great way for us to be able to connect with the community,” shared Vogel-Ferguson.
The Meals on Wheels program predominantly supports isolated and homebound seniors by delivering nutritious meals directly to their doors.
Volunteers pick up meals from the 10th East Senior Center and deliver them Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Each shift typically lasts about an hour, and volunteers deliver meals to six to twelve recipients during that time, with participation varying from a couple of times a month to once a week depending on individual schedules.
Vogel-Ferguson noted that since the delivery route is conveniently located in the Avenues, it’s manageable for many volunteers to make deliveries during their lunch breaks.
She explained, “I think people perceive the Avenues as a ‘ritzy’ area, but we’ve delivered to many low-income individuals in this neighborhood. Others just don’t have family members to help them. So, this program ensures that they get at least one balanced, nutritious meal a day.”
A vital but less visible aspect of the Meals on Wheels Program is the wellness checks that accompany each delivery.
Salt Lake County instructs volunteers to assess and report the recipient’s condition at the time meals are dropped off.
If a senior appears incoherent, injured, or in distress, volunteers can log a condition change within the county’s smartphone app, which alerts a caseworker to follow up and ensure the individual receives needed support.
Jennifer Zenger, who has served as the project administrator for the Social Research Institute for nearly 25 years and has volunteered for Meals on Wheels since its inception, emphasized the effectiveness of the app.
“It’s not like every time you go out, you’re encountering all of these challenges. It happens rarely, which is good. But when it does happen, it’s really good that we’re there,” Vogel-Ferguson expressed.
Typically, Vogel-Ferguson explained, being just a friendly face can mean a lot during the delivery visits.
“For a lot of these folks, they don’t have a lot of interactions with others, so being positive and asking them how their day is going or commenting that their lunch looks good are a few ways I approach the deliveries.”
Assistant Professor (Clinical) Sumiko Anderson has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for nearly four years.
She became aware of this community service opportunity through Vogel-Ferguson upon starting her full-time role at the College of Social Work.
“Any opportunity to serve the community and to be supportive is a part of who I am. It was an easy answer when she asked. It was definitely a ‘yes.’ ‘One hundred percent, yes,’” Anderson remarked.
Throughout her volunteering, Anderson has met diverse individuals, including former educators from the University of Utah, local schoolteachers, and poets.
“I always try to make some time to just check in with people to see how they’re doing. In doing so, I have learned so much interesting information about people and their backgrounds; I’ve met people of all walks of life, which is rewarding for me and them, too,” she continued.
A few months ago, during one of her deliveries, Anderson visited an 80-year-old woman she refers to as “Minnie” (a pseudonym to protect her identity) and immediately sensed that something was amiss.
“Minnie had tears in her eyes, and I asked her if she was okay. She said, ‘No, I’m not,’” recalled Anderson.
Minnie confided that she had been scammed into providing her credit card information over the phone.
Fortunately, Minnie felt uneasy about the call and contacted her credit card company, which promptly put a hold on her account.
During her next delivery, Anderson took the opportunity to assist Minnie further by providing a list of community resources, including Adult Protective Services and a senior companionship program.
On that visit, Minnie revealed that her husband, also a meal recipient, had recently passed away.
“I asked Minnie if she had any family or friends. She introduced me to her friend, who lived in the same apartment complex. I just thanked them for being supportive of her because now she’s alone,” Anderson shared.
Despite being someone who doesn’t typically express affection physically, Anderson noticed that Minnie needed some comfort.
“I asked her if it was okay, and she said, ‘yes, please.’ I gave her a big hug that day,” Anderson said.
For her, volunteering with Meals on Wheels transcends the task of merely delivering meals.
“I worry about them, and I can tell the ones who have been more isolated because the conversations with them are very deep and rich, and they’re usually the ones that always want me to stay a little longer,” she mentioned.
“I think it’s really important for us to stay in community with people of all ages, especially older adults. Sharing their stories is a way for them to remember the sense of purpose they once had, which matters because isolated people often don’t feel like they really matter or make a difference.”
Recently, the volunteering team was recognized with a plaque from Salt Lake County for their “outstanding volunteer service to the senior community and promoting healthy communities.”
Vogel-Ferguson highlighted that the program enables volunteers to connect not just with those they serve but also with their colleagues on campus.
“Sometimes when you’re sitting at your desk in the College of Social Work all day long, you don’t feel a whole lot like a social worker. We connect with each other because we have these clients in common,” she noted.
After retiring in December, Vogel-Ferguson has passed the leadership baton to Zenger, who now oversees the volunteer team.
Zenger concluded her thoughts by reflecting on the impact of the work: “It just gives you a warm fuzzy [feeling] knowing that you said hello, put a smile on their face, and you know they’re alive and well and they’re going to have a hot meal.”
image source from：https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/serving-seniors-social-work-volunteers-join-meals-on-wheels-effort/
