Meals on Wheels delivered more than 16 million meals in 2021 to New Yorkers. Some locations are looking for more help to make deliveries, and becoming a volunteer driver might be easier than you think. They need more volunteers to take meals from the kitchen to people's homes.

“Maybe someday it'll benefit me more directly. Maybe I'll need it,” said Jim Fleckenstein, a volunteer driver.

Fleckenstein has been driving for six years. His mom received Meals on Wheels, and he started volunteering after she passed.

“And you can see in the eyes, the faces and the appreciations from the clients that they truly appreciate it, just like my mother did,” said Fleckenstein.

It takes many hands outside, and inside, the kitchen every day.

“We pack about 900 meals each day, Monday through Friday,” said Eileen Bontorno, a volunteer who has been helping to bring nutritious meals to the community for four years.

“I was retired. We're empty nesters and I wanted something to do. I like to be busy. I love working with these people. They're my family away from home,” said Bontorno.

Meals on Wheels is looking for more volunteers like Bontorno and Fleckenstein.

“Meals on Wheels is across the nation, so we’re all seeing this growth of older adults who are in need of meals. And we have to have more people to help us, support us, and the core of this is delivering the meals packaging meals,” said Mason Kaufman, the executive director of Meals on Wheels Syracuse.

Kaufman said they’ve seen 18% growth over the last two years at their Syracuse location. All you need is a car and a driver’s license to deliver meals.

“As long as you're a safe driver, we can use you,” said Kaufman.

Deborah Dermady has been getting meals since she had an illness, leaving her arms and legs weaker.

“It supplements my food needs, which is good, and I eat well, balanced, vegetables whether I want to eat them or not,” said Dermady.