SOUTH ROYALTON — The Central Vermont Council on Aging is looking for volunteers to help deliver Meals on Wheels. There are immediate openings at the South Royalton Senior Center and The Quin-Town Senior Center in Hancock, Vt., as well as ongoing volunteer opportunities throughout the region.

Luke Rackers, RSVP Volunteer Coordinator for the Central Vermont Council on Aging, said Meals on Wheels is about more than just providing food.

“The Meals on Wheels programs in Central Vermont are an integral part of helping older Vermonters to stay healthy and remain independent,” he said in an email. “This support includes a nutritious meal, a friendly visit, and a quick safety check.”

Currently, the South Royalton Senior Center needs drivers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and The Quin-Town Senior Center needs drivers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Meals on Wheels delivery drivers usually start their routes between 10 and 10:30 a.m., and most routes take less than two hours to complete. Rackers said most volunteers are retired people, but anyone can become a driver, including those with extended lunch breaks. Although it may seem like a solitary volunteer opportunity, driving can be social, and even an opportunity to teach children and grandchildren about giving back, he said.

“We have several volunteers who will drive with their spouse and even some who deliver with a friend,” Rackers said. “Volunteering with others is a wonderful way to create a sense of belonging.”

Even drivers who deliver alone experience the social aspect when they stop to chat with meal recipients, he said.

“Meals on Wheels volunteers see the immediate impact of their service,” Rackers said. “For some meal recipients, interacting with their volunteer driver is their primary means of social connection. It is a wonderful way to support the community and to ensure that the older members of the community can continue to live independently.”

In addition, there is a need for volunteers who can continue during the winter months.

“This is the perfect time for new volunteers to start, making sure they are comfortable with their new route while the weather is nice,” Rackers said.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Rackers at 802-479-1953 or lrackers@cvcoa.org.