Abstract

Faced with a growing homebound senior population, the Volunteer Center of Orange County needed more volunteers to deliver meals to seniors' homes. Asking local businesses to "adopt a route" proved to be a successful way of securing volunteers to deliver to homes on a consistent basis and involve local businesses in supporting the agency. Debbie Dalton, director of senior programs for the Volunteer Center of Orange County, submitted this effective practice.

Back to top

Issue

As the number of homebound seniors increased in the community, it was becoming more difficult to find enough volunteers who could deliver meals to them during the daytime.

Back to top

Action

The Volunteer Center of Orange County recruited local companies to "adopt a route." They proposed the idea to regional companies near the routes where they needed volunteers. The company would recruit employees to volunteer and deliver meals to homebound seniors. Depending on the size of the company, each volunteer would be responsible for delivering meals from once a month to once a week. The company would give the volunteer time off work to deliver the meals.

At one company, a calendar was sent around each month and volunteers would sign up to deliver meals. Then the volunteer would be responsible for finding a replacement if he/she could not deliver meals on his/her assigned day. The company purchased bright magnetic signs with the company logo to put on the meal van and boxes to deliver the meals in.

The "adopt a route" idea was an easy way to get companies involved in the organization.

Back to top

Context

The idea was promoted to and used by nutrition programs and senior centers in Orange County as a way to recruit a stable source of volunteer deliverers.

Back to top

Outcome

The "adopt a route" idea not only provided a stable source of volunteers, it also helped the agency build relationships with local businesses. The company would start by adopting a route and eventually become more involved. Companies who have adopted routes have held fundraisers for the agency, provided gifts to the homebound seniors, and enlisted employees to serve on the board of directors.

Back to top

Posted On

October 3, 2001

Back to top

For More Information

Back to top

Related Practices

• Assessing corporate climate for employee volunteer programs
• Partnering with a bakery to provide breakfast to low-income schools
• Implementing an employee volunteer program in ten steps

Back to top

Related sites

Topic Areas

• Food and nutrition
• Health
• Poverty and low-income needs
• Senior services
• Nonprofit management
• Community partnerships
• Corporate partnerships
• Partnerships
• Community-Based Organizations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Seniors
• Program management

Back to top