Meet Joe: Delivering Meals, Driving Change
Written by Kaira B, in collaboration with the Communications team
Every volunteer helps their community better understand the intertwined challenges of senior food insecurity and isolation—whether through the time they give or the unique professional and personal experiences they bring to our programs. And it’s within the Meals on Wheels program, in particular, that this impact becomes especially clear. Our volunteers play a vital role in delivering not just meals, but meaningful connection and support.
Behind every delivered meal is a friendly face and a heartfelt conversation, reminding our seniors they’re never alone. Through our Meals on Wheels program, we deliver more than 280,000 meals every year thanks to the help of over 140 friendly volunteers—including Joe Manner. Joe is a retired executive, an avid traveler, a basketball player, a devoted family man, and a passionate Meals on Wheels volunteer. Joe first heard about Meals on Wheels through his earlier volunteering in the food-security space and from his neighbours who were involved with the program. Five years later, he continues to deliver meals twice a week to vulnerable community members — and he shows no signs of slowing down.
A Great Volunteering Gig
Joe makes 30–40 deliveries each week along the same route. He describes the Meals on Wheels program as superbly organized — from the initial training to the weekly logistics. He picks up pre-packaged meals from the office and delivers them directly to clients’ homes, where he always shows up with a smile. “I find it gratifying to deliver something so immediate, concrete, and necessary to our seniors—a nutritious meal,” he says. “I’m also able to offer that extra human connection.”
Volunteering also reconnected Joe with an old high school friend. As volunteers at Circle of Care, the two have become close again after years apart. Joe warmly encourages other retirees who want to give back to consider joining the program.
More Than Meals
Joe sees many of his clients regularly. While some speak little English or prefer to maintain distance, Joe’s visits offer an invaluable check-in for individuals who are often isolated. His attentive presence helps identify when additional support may be needed.
He recalls one delivery he made during a summer heat wave. “When I greeted the senior, who was in his 70s, at his front door, I noticed how blisteringly hot the apartment was. The air conditioner was broken.” Going far above and beyond his volunteer responsibilities, Joe acted quickly: he cleaned the A/C filter, unplugged nearby devices to ease the circuit load, and managed to get the unit running. He then reported the problem to the building superintendent and Circle of Care’s head office, ensuring the electrical issues were properly resolved.
Fortunately, situations like these are rare. Most days, Joe is greeted by clients who appear comfortable, sometimes even answering the door in their pajamas. Others welcome the chance to reminisce about their lives. And one especially sweet client thanks Joe each week with two little chocolates — a tradition Joe and his wife enjoy together. These daily interactions highlight how Meals on Wheels is uniquely positioned to support seniors as their needs grow more complex. Delivering meals often enables volunteers to notice changes in well-being, or simply offer a moment of companionship—little things that make a big difference.
Sharing Management Expertise
With his extensive background in strategy and management, Joe has also recently joined Circle of Care’s Food Security Committee. As the number of seniors in our community continues to rise, so does the importance of strengthening and expanding the program to meet them where they are. The committee is thoughtfully exploring new ways to grow and sustain this vital program, ensuring that Meals on Wheels remains responsive and can continue supporting healthier, more connected aging for years to come.
In the end, every meal delivered is a reminder that caring for our seniors goes far beyond nutrition—it strengthens their health, their independence, and their connection to the community. Thanks to dedicated volunteers like Joe, Meals on Wheels continues to be a lifeline that supports healthier, more connected aging.
Learn more about volunteering with Circle of Care by visiting our Volunteer webpage.
