Volunteer
By serving with Meals on Wheels West, you will have a direct impact on alleviating senior hunger and loneliness in your community.
We have multiple volunteer opportunities that can fit your schedule!
Every year, Meals on Wheels West relies on hundreds of volunteers to help us reach homebound seniors, people living with disabilities, and neighbors managing chronic illness across Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu. Whether you have an hour, a week, or a more consistent availability, there’s a role that fits your schedule and interests.
From delivering meals and friendly conversation, to helping behind the scenes, to making a caring phone call, every volunteer helps us deliver more than a meal. Explore the opportunities below to find the one that’s right for you.
Ready to get started? Pick an opportunity below.
Hear from a few of our volunteers on what it means to serve their community.
Delivery Volunteering
Deliver nutritious hot, cold, and drozen nutritious meals — along a few minutes of friendly conversation — to homebound neighbors. Routes run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
Operations Volunteering
Prefer to help behind the scenes? Operations volunteers help us set up, sort and distribute meals to our delivery volunteers, and clean returning meal bags at our Pico Neighborhood office. Weekday shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are always needed.
Community Connections Phone Program
Meals on Wheels West volunteers call clients weekly for friendly conversations which increases socialization and reduces loneliness. Our wellness checks monitor and report on health and wellness, with a focus on mental health. This is a virtual opportunity where you can have an impact from anywhere.
Community Events & Ambassadors
Be a voice for Meals on Wheels West in the community! As a Community Ambassador, you’ll represent Meals on Wheels West at local festivals, resource fairs, community gatherings, and special events. You’ll serve as a spokesperson for our organization, sharing our mission, connecting with community members, and helping others learn about our programs, services, and ways to get involved.
Group & Corporate Volunteering
Looking for a meaningful team outing, a family activity, or a way to get your school or company involved? Meals on Wheels West welcomes groups of all sizes!
Groups can deliver meals together, make friendly phone calls to reduce isolation among our clients, or assemble care packages and hygiene kits that bring a little extra joy to someone’s day. It’s a flexible, hands-on way to build connection with each other and with the community.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor Care Packages
Add a little extra joy to a client’s day by assembling care packages — birthday bags, welcome bags, hygiene kits, and more — delivered alongside their regular meal. A great project for individuals, families, students, or corporate groups.
Self-Schedule Your Next Volunteer Shift
If you have already completed the background check and onboarding, you can self schedule your next volunteer shift here.
Volunteers are the Wheels of our organization
Volunteers enjoy a fulfilling experience no matter the role
“I love putting smiles on people’s faces and giving to my community”
You can deliver every day, once a week or once a month or once a year. Meals on Wheels West offers flexible schedules that accommodate volunteer’s schedule. Whatever works for you!
Volunteers pick up meals at the Santa Monica location and deliver to about ten people in a neighborhood.
Keeping it local, more than 95% of our clients live in Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey. Volunteers also deliver to Malibu and Pacific Palisades.
Volunteers help MOW West keep our costs down, allowing us to provide meals to our clients who receive meals free or at a reduced cost.
In the last fiscal year, over 850 people volunteered!
High school and college students can earn community service hours.
Businesses and service clubs can do a group Day of Service.
For the safety of our clients, volunteers must pass a short confidential background check.
Please click on the link to start your background check. To volunteer you must complete the Volunteer Application form and complete the background check.
If you have questions or need help signing up, call (310) 394-5133 x2 or email volunteer@mealsonwheelswest.org
Serving LA Coastal Communities Since 1974
1823-A Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 394-5133
info@mealsonwheelswest.org
Help Move Our Neighbors Off the Waitlist
Right now, 93 homebound neighbors are waiting for a meal, a wellness check, a hello. Your gift today moves one of them closer to the front of the line.
Design by Booyah Creative.