The volunteers of Hawaiʻi Meal on Wheels play a critical in our meal delivery operations.  Every week day, volunteers pick up hot, nutritious meals from our kitchen partners and make sure the meals are delivered to the homes of frail elders or those who are disabled in a timely manner.

Hawaiʻi Meal on Wheels volunteers cover nearly 50 routes throughout Oʻahu. Some start after they retire, while others volunteer with their fellow employees as a company, and others start volunteering because they are attracted to what Hawaiʻi Meal on Wheels is all about.

They all volunteer on their own time using their own vehicles. It’s a true labor of love that many find personally rewarding. Our annual volunteer recognition luncheon is token of our appreciation for our hard-working, diligent volunteers.

This year, our Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon was held at the Japanese Cultural Center in in Moʻiliʻili on Saturday, May 14, 2016.  The Hawaiʻi Meal on Wheels board of directors and staff recognized volunteers who reached five years of service and was glad to honor Shuk Fon Yuen, who has been volunteering for 30 years! They each received koa bowls, presented by the board members and staff.

Shook Fon “Fooney” Yuen and members of Hawaii Meals on Wheels Staff and Board of Directors (photo by Wayne Bautista)

“Eighty percent of the meals are delivered by volunteers,” said Geoffrey Pang, who volunteers as President of the Hawaiʻi Meal on Wheels Board of Directors. “We cannot thank our volunteers enough for the work that you do.”

At the event, he shared that Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels was founded by Irmgard Hörmann in 1979 with six volunteers and has now grown to nearly 450 volunteers.
The Hawaiʻi Meal on Wheels staff, who make the myriad complex tasks of coordinating the meals deliveries with the volunteers seem effortless, also deserve recognition for their behind-the-scenes effort to plan and coordinate this great event.

Be sure to attend next year’s event!  And if you are interested in volunteering, Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels has a route for you! We’re always looking at ways we can expand or provide back-up support to ensure coverage for every neighborhood. Please call Brad Akamu, Volunteer Coordinator at Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels, for more information at (808) 988-6747 (or email brad@hmow.org).

Here are some scenes from this year’s Annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon by volunteer photographer Wayne Bautista, who always adeptly captures the excitement and energy of our events. Mahalo, Wayne!

…More photos of our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon coming up soon! So stay tuned!