Polk County Volunteers Needed to Feed 150 Waiting Seniors

For Martha Harvey, the knock on her door each weekday brings both nourishment and something she treasures even more: a friendly face.

The 89-year-old has medical issues that keep her homebound and unable to cook. Through Meals on Wheels of Polk County, a volunteer delivers a hot meal to her door five days a week.

"I love seeing them every day because I have a lot of children too, but they're all busy working," Harvey said. "It has been wonderful. You don't have to worry. You know every day you're going to have a meal."

Meals on Wheels of Polk County delivers about 675 hot meals every weekday to homebound seniors across the county. But as the area continues to grow, demand has outpaced the volunteer workforce.

About 150 seniors remain on the waitlist for meal deliveries. The organization urgently needs more volunteers, especially in Bartow, Lakeland, and Davenport.

For volunteers Flip and Tonya Farinella, delivering meals has become a seven-year labor of love. The husband-and-wife team completes routes with 15 to 16 stops, and they've built genuine relationships along the way.

"Sometimes we're the only people that they get to see during the week, so they're happy to see us when we come," Tonya said. The daily visits help combat isolation while ensuring access to nutritious food for people who can't leave home.

The Ripple Effect

Each volunteer route takes just a few hours but creates waves of impact that extend far beyond a single meal. When seniors like Harvey receive regular visits, they gain security, better nutrition, and critical social connection that studies show improves both mental and physical health.

The waitlist of 150 people represents families worried about their loved ones, adult children juggling work responsibilities, and isolated seniors wondering when help will arrive. Every new volunteer has the power to change that reality for multiple families at once.

Harvey knows firsthand how transformative that daily visit can be. "Really it's a nice feeling that somebody's going to be there and they're so nice. Every one of them," she said.

Those interested in volunteering can visit Meals on Wheels of Polk County's website to learn how a few hours a week can fill plates and hearts across the community.