RALEIGH, N.C. — Meals On Wheels of Wake County serves an extremely vulnerable population and is often the primary lifeline, delivering much more than a meal.

Assistant Director of Communications Amy Akroyd says delivering provides nutrition but also an opportunity to check in. She remembers when one client didn't answer the door.

“It turns out that she had fallen, so when her emergency contact went to check on her, they were able to essentially rescue her,” Akroyd says.

Meals On Wheels volunteers were delivering one hot daily meal every weekday to homebound clients before the coronavirus pandemic. But now, the nonprofit has switched to delivering one shelf staple box per week. The boxes provide enough food for clients for an entire week of meals.

There are also meals delivered to congregate locations for more mobile seniors who can pick up their food boxes in person. Congregate dining rooms have been closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic.

Meals On Wheels of Wake County has more than 1,600 active volunteers. And on delivery days, they utilize about 250 of them across the Wake County sites.

If you want to get involved you can become a volunteer, make a monetary donation, or donate personal protective equipment for the volunteers and clients.