SAN ANTONIO — Meals on Wheels relies heavily on volunteers, but gas prices could affect the number of volunteers willing to drive routes.

Nancy De La Garza is making her weekly rounds for Meals on Wheels San Antonio.

“It was two years ago when I retired and I really wanted to be able to do something,” De La Garza said. “So I called and got routes right away.”

More than 4,000 people get meals delivered four days a week. About half of the clients are served by volunteers.

“It’s all about community,” Vinsen Faris, Meals on Wheels San Antonio CEO, said. “Neighbor helping neighbor.” 

Faris says volunteers are the heartbeat of the operation. But COVID changed things, causing a number of volunteers to stay home with health concerns until vaccines were accessible. Now fuel prices have become another hurdle.

“Since the start of the pandemic, our food costs have risen over 22%,” Faris said. “And a big chunk of that is related to transportation cost, which is going to be going up.”

Higher gas prices is a growing concern for the nonprofit where volunteers use their own vehicles. With fewer delivery days, some volunteers have picked up multiple routes. 

“It doesn’t take very long,” De La Garza said. “I enjoy doing it and checking on people, making sure they are OK.”

“Yes, we are going to lose a few volunteers,” Faris said. “Hopefully this increase in gas prices is going to take a dip soon.”

De La Garza says gas prices hopefully will level out soon because she plans to continue her routes.

“It’s not that much more,” De La Garza said. “It’s really needed. Everyone needs it. It’s not going to break my bank. Check again with me when it comes up to $10 per gallon. But for now, I think I can handle it.”