Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels will celebrate its 80 volunteer drivers at an annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner May 10 at the Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Art Museum.

The recognition comes at a time when an increase in clients is leading to the active recruitment of new volunteers.

Sherry LaFerriere will receive an award for her 25 years of service, and Joyce and Terry Fernandez, who cover a route together, are being honored for 15 years of delivering meals throughout Santa Barbara.

There are three drivers who have driven for a decade, and five who have reached the five-year mark.

“I drive and Terry jumps out to make the deliveries,” said Joyce Fernandez, whose husband began joining her on their 90-minute route when he retired in 2014. The couple always brings their dog along for the ride, and until recently, they covered two routes.

“We really believe in volunteering in our community,” Joyce Fernandez said.

With a team of drivers covering weekly routes, Meals on Wheels delivers hot meals seven days a week. Seniors and homebound individuals receive affordable, nutritious food, and the service helps them stay healthy, independent and where they want to be – in their homes.

Many clients look forward to visits from volunteers who have made personal connections with the people on their routes.

“We’ve never missed a day since Meals on Wheels began in 1971, and have delivered over 1 million meals since then,” said Dan Kronstadt, co-president of the nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

“It works because our volunteers are so dedicated. They really care about their clients,” he said.

Today, more than 200 clients receive meals freshly prepared by Valle Verde retirement community, which has partnered with Meals on Wheels for more than 35 years.

As more clients request the service, Meals on Wheels is looking for new volunteers to cover a weekly route or serve as a sub.

Volunteers who are interested can do a ride-along to see what the experience is like. Once they begin driving, they can easily arrange for a substitute driver when they’re going to be out of town or have a conflict.

Because drivers have regular contact with clients, they become eyes and ears for family members who live out of the area, said Kay Castagnola, Volunteer Driver coordinator.

“Through the years, drivers have intervened many times when they saw that clients were feeling isolated, or needed medical attention, mental health support or adult protective services,” Castagnola said.

Although dramatically rising food costs have been a challenge, Meals on Wheels hasn’t raised the price of a meal, which is $4.75, for the past three years.

Meal prices are about 30 percent less than the actual food cost, and 50 percent less than the total cost associated with a prepared meal.

“We don’t receive federal funding but do rely on grants, donations, and the willingness of volunteers to play an active role in daily operations,” said Scott Reid, board co-president.

“We have just two part-time employees, and our board members and volunteers do the rest, from interviewing new clients and delivering food to writing grants and working with our partners at Valle Verde,” Reid said.

In 2022, 318 clients received meals — some for short periods of time following an illness or hospital stay, and others on a long-term basis. A total of 44,220 meals were delivered. There are no age requirements to receive meals.

Many clients say they’re pleasantly surprised by the amount of food they receive. Each meal includes a main course, two side dishes, soup, salad or fresh fruit, dessert and a beverage. There are also vegetarian menus and special meals for clients who have diabetes or specific dietary requirements.

Delivery plans are flexible – some clients receive a meal only a few days a week while others have daily deliveries.

To learn more about receiving meals, becoming a volunteer or making a donation to Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels, call 805-683-1565 or visit www.mealsonwheelssb.org.