About
What Is It?
The largest Meals on Wheels program in Texas, serving about 4,000 homebound seniors and persons with disabilities each day. Clients are unable to prepare their own meals and have no one else to help with their daily nutrition, making their meal delivery absolutely essential.
Help Needed:
Assemble breakfast bags, help with meal delivery, work in the warehouse, make greeting cards, and other projects. Please contact Interfaith Ministries for COVID-related updates.
Details
Minimum Age to Volunteer
17 to volunteer independently. Children aged 6-16 may volunteer with parental supervision on-site (at the IM offices); no minimum age to volunteer with a parent off-site. Parental consent required for volunteers 17 or younger.
Time Commitment
Varies. Volunteers may deliver meals once a month, once a week, or whenever they are able to help. Other projects require a 1.5-3 hour commitment.
Training Needed
To get started, fill out a volunteer application here. Then choose a date for your New Volunteer Orientation. After the 1-hour orientation, it will take about a week to process your volunteer paperwork (including a background check for adult volunteers). Then we’ll contact you with information about how to RSVP for 1-hour trainings related to the opportunities you are interested in. Minors are not required to attend orientation or training, but are welcome to attend.
Help Needed
BREAKFAST BAGS
For groups of 10-30. Assemble bags of breakfast groceries that Meals on Wheels’ most vulnerable seniors receive each week. Weekday mornings or afternoons; Saturday mornings (for 15+ volunteers only). Shifts are 2-3 hours long. Must be at least 17 to volunteer independently.
MEAL DELIVERY
Youth volunteers may help deliver hot meals by accompanying their parents or guardians who are trained volunteer drivers. Volunteers pick up hot, nutritious meals between 10:30-11 AM (Monday-Friday) and hand-deliver them directly to the homes of seniors and persons with disabilities. Deliveries typically take about 1-1.5 hours. No minimum age.
The 5 distribution sites are in Midtown, the Heights, Humble, and Katy (2 sites), with a Galveston location coming soon.
WAREHOUSE CREW
For groups of up to 18 volunteers. Work with Warehouse staff to count Meals on Wheels meals and drinks, load coolers, control traffic, and help clean up. Weekdays 8 AM-11 AM. Must be 14 years of age or older to participate.
CLIENT GREETING CARDS
Each year, Interfaith Ministries gives thousands of cards to Meals on Wheels to recognize birthdays, holidays, and special celebrations. Volunteers are invited to make cards at home, work, or elsewhere and deliver them to IM. Groups of 10-30 may arrange to meet at IM to make cards. No minimum age.
BIRTHDAY COOKIES & CARDS
For groups of 8-12. Repackage and label store-bought birthday cookies for our Meals on Wheels clients and make personalized birthday cards. Time commitment: 2 hours. Minimum age: 6.
HOLIDAY GIFT BAGS
Collect or purchase approved items (2 full-sized toiletries (shampoo & conditioner, body soap & body lotion, mouthwash & toothpaste, or toothbrush & toothpaste), 1 unisex warm item (scarf, blanket/throw, socks, gloves, or beanie cap), 1 fun item (word search, sudoku, or crossword puzzle book, or jigsaw puzzle), and a holiday greeting card) and assemble gift bags. Often this will be the only gift that Meals on Wheels clients receive all year. This can be done at work, school, home, or place of worship. After your bags are assembled, please deliver to Interfaith Ministries by mid-December. No minimum age. You can make 5 bags or 200!
HOST A DRIVE
Homebound Meals on Wheels recipients would be very grateful for supplies such as electric fans, walkers, important nutrition supplements such as Ensure and Boost, or many other items. Contents of holiday gift bags are also needed. IM can provide handouts and more information about hosting a drive. No minimum age.
Contact Details
Contact
For more information, please visit the Volunteer web page.
Location
INTERFAITH MINISTRIES FOR GREATER HOUSTON – MEALS ON WHEELS
Houston, Texas 77004
Location Details
Houston, Texas 77004
Volunteers can pick up meals at one of these five sites:
Meals on Wheels Midtown (3202 San Jacinto Street Houston, Texas 77004)
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in the Heights
Humble Area Assistance Ministries in Humble
Covenant Lutheran Church in Katy
Katy Methodist Church in Katy
Additional Information
Examples of past Scout projects
Silver Award: Girl Scout Troop 17081 made 41 fleece lap blankets as part of their Silver Award project. (2011)
Gallery
Hi,
My name is Tyisha and I am interested in organizing a Greeting Card activity table at work for an event we are having in early May. Please provide the criteria we should follow and were to send the greeting cards once complete.
Thanks,
Tyisha
Dear Tyisha, I’m sorry for my late reply. Please contact Cecilia Pham, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, cpham@imgh.org, 713-533-4981. She is great and will let you know what kinds of cards are needed. Thank you for helping the Meals on Wheels clients! They love receiving cards.