Muffie Taggett first became involved with CEAP 5 years ago, in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Like many new volunteers at that time, she was moved by the community’s growing need in an age of isolation and sprung to action by signing up for a shift as a Meals on Wheels driver.
Since then, she's delivered thousands of warm, fresh meals to seniors and homebound neighbors in our community. At least twice a week, Muffie spends her lunch hour listening to podcasts and classical music while en route to deliver meals to community members’ doorsteps. This investment of time and resources pays off full force, she says, when she sees recipients accept their meal with a smile: “It’s very rewarding work, especially when you get to know these people for a while.”
Indeed, Muffie’s consistent volunteerism means that she often drives the same route each week, allowing her to form lasting relationships with recipients – and their pets, who she brings treats for on each visit. Muffie’s friendly smile and quick wit are certain to brighten the day of anyone she meets but are particularly meaningful for recipients with limited access to daily social interactions. These deliveries, she notes, “are an opportunity for connection as well as a wellness check.” For Meals on Wheels recipients who live alone, a daily visit or check-in can quell loneliness and reassure them that someone always cares.
Similarly, Muffie describes the Meals on Wheels program as a "godsend" for neighbors without access to consistent, affordable sources of nourishment. While the program itself is an unbelievable source of hope for our homebound neighbors, the true “godsend” are volunteers like Muffie, who take the time, energy, and care into ensuring our community remains nourished, noticed, and nurtured.
Muffie, along with the 27 other daily Meals on Wheels volunteers, truly touches the lives of our senior and homebound neighbors by providing food and friendship on a daily basis. They understand that Meals on Wheels isn't just a meal, it’s a memory. It’s a moment of hope, connection, and joy for both recipients and volunteers. It’s a monument of what our world can be like when we approach one another with empathy, love, and respect.
Join us this week in celebrating and thanking our wonderful volunteers like Muffie, who enact CEAP’s mission and vision on a daily basis.
