BY MATT LINDSEYNorth Country This Week

St. Lawrence County’s senior meal delivery program needs at least 100 volunteers. Right now, about 75 are available to help deliver 600 to 700 meals each week to older adults across the county.

The St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging is seeking volunteer meal drivers to help deliver lunchtime meals to homebound seniors, with a significant shortage of volunteers in the Gouverneur and Potsdam areas.

“We could use 2-4 (or more per site). It is helpful to also have a list of volunteers willing to be on call as well,” said Andrea Montgomery, director of the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging.

Home-delivered meals are provided Monday through Friday through five Nutrition Centers in Brasher Falls, Canton, Gouverneur, Morristown and Potsdam.

More than 550 older adults receive home-delivered meals each week, with the county delivering between 600 and 700 meals weekly. Some clients receive more than one meal based on their economic and food insecurity needs.

The program currently has a pool of about 75 volunteers across the five Nutrition Centers, but Montgomery said at least 100 volunteers are needed.

When there are not enough volunteers to cover a route and there is not enough staff available, routes may be canceled for the day. Clients on canceled routes still receive a phone wellness check to ensure they are okay and have a frozen meal for the day.

“However, we prefer to deliver them a hot meal and see them in person for the safety check,” Montgomery said.

A typical route takes about an hour, although some routes take two hours, she said. Volunteers are assigned routes based on their availability and preferences, while staff typically deliver the longer routes.

Volunteers can choose their own schedule, helping a few hours a week or a month. Home-delivered meal drivers receive 76 cents per mile in mileage reimbursement for their routes.

To become a volunteer driver, applicants must complete an application. The Nutrition Manager reviews the application and contacts the volunteer to discuss when they might begin.

“We can usually start someone within a few days to a week after initial contact,” Montgomery said.

The program is seeking volunteers to help ensure older adults can remain safely in their homes.

To learn more about volunteering, contact the St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging at 315-386-4730.