​Volunteers are what make

Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois possible.

Volunteer with us and you can make a big difference in your community by committing just two hours a week. Our volunteers provide nourishment not just for the body but for the soul as well. They also provide wellness checks for our clients who may not have friends or family members to care for them. 

Meal Delivery 

Our volunteers use their own vehicles to pick up and deliver prepared meals to clients’ homes once a week. You choose your delivery area and day and we will provide meals, routing…and a truly rewarding experience.

KITCHEN PREP

Channel your inner Julia Child while you help MWNEI food production staff create beautiful, delicious meals for our clients.

OPERATIONS ASSISTANCE

MWNEI’s Simpson Street facility in Evanston requires many hands to make the work light. Volunteer to offer phone support, cleaning support, food packaging, gardening, snow shoveling, mailing prep, building and vehicle maintenance and more by committing to one day a week to do what needs to be done.

ROUTE PACKERS

Pack insulated bags with meals and beverages for each volunteer driver’s route. Shifts are available 8 am -11 am Mondays - Fridays and 9am - noon Saturdays in the MWNEI facility in Evanston.

As a meal delivery volunteer, you pick up prepared meals and deliver them to seniors and homebound adults in your service area. Our volunteers also provide wellness checks for many clients who don’t have a family to look after them. A friendly smile and human connection go a long way to provide nourishment for their soul as the meals nourish the body.

We are looking for volunteers in all of our service areas, including Northern Cook County and all of Lake County.

Our meals are ready for pick up by volunteers between 10 AM and noon Monday through Saturday (times vary depending on your pick-up area). All routes take less than two hours to complete. Some of our volunteers prefer to work alone while others work as a team. All delivery drivers must be 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license and insurance for their vehicle.

Sign up today to deliver meals and smiles once a week by completing the volunteer application below. If you have questions about meal delivery, contact us.

about kitchen volunteering

Our Kitchen Prep volunteer positions are great for individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, churches and others who want to help make a difference in their communities . This part in the powerhouse movement supports MWNEI food service staff with cutting, mixing, scooping, plating…and sometimes a little dancing!

Morning or afternoon shifts take place Monday - Saturday in the MWNEI kitchen located at 1723 Simpson Street, Evanston IL 60201.

Route Information

Meals are delivered to each pick-up location at a designated time by a volunteer distribution route driver. These distribution volunteers meet route volunteers with each route’s meals packed in insulated bags. After those bags are transferred, the distribution volunteer moves on to the next pick-up location. A 15-minute pickup window allows everyone’s schedule to be maintained, so we ask that volunteers arrive at their designated time. Routes are mapped to begin and end at the pick-up location. Pick up locations are shown below.

​If you have any questions during delivery Monday - Friday, please call our office at 847-332-2678. 

Workplace Delivery Teams

Are you looking for a way for your organization to get more involved in the community? 

Workplace volunteer teams allow your employees to deliver meals during their lunch break. Your office can adopt a route on the same day each week or month and take turns delivering meals. We will match your group with a route close that’s close to your office.

Tax Information 

Mileage for your volunteer work can be deducted on your tax return. Mileage reports may be requested at the beginning of each year for tax purposes. Email volunteercoordinator@MealsonWheelsNEI.org to request your report. 

MOW Scheduler

Our volunteers can log in to MOW Scheduler to check schedules, record hours and miles and sign up for open routes.

Need help logging in? Contact our office at 847-332-2678.

MOBIL MEALS APP

The Mobil Meals app is used by meal delivery volunteers to navigate their delivery route and notify staff of clients’ well being and food orders.

Policies and Procedures

All new and current volunteers should stay familiar with the Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois Volunteer Policies and Procedures. Review the Volunteer Policy and Procedures and return the acknowledged form on the last page.

Background Checks

We require background checks on all our staff and volunteers. These background checks are renewed annually. If you have been notified that it is time to renew your background check, you may do so by visiting verifiedvolunteers.com or completing the Background Check Renewal Form and returning it to our office.

Volunteer IDs

All current volunteers need a Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois Volunteer ID to wear while delivering meals. If you do not have one, stop in the office to have your photo taken or send in a photo to volunteercoordinator@MealsonWheelsNEI.org.

We’ll let you know when your ID is ready to pick up.