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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Posted On

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For More Information

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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

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