Mondays are especially busy days for YMOW volunteers like Nancy Culotta. Along with the usual meals, staff and volunteers distribute donations of produce, bread, and other items to everyone on their routes.
It’s a lot more work, but Nancy sees every knock on a door, every bag of apples and every carton of eggs as an opportunity to create moments of connection with the people she’s come to know on her route.
“I know who likes carrots and who likes salad. I know who likes what kind of bread,” Nancy said.
Nancy, YMOW’s Volunteer of the Quarter, began volunteering for meal delivery about two years ago. The position is a continuation in a long history of work with local non-profits.
“I love being able to help,” said Nancy, who brings food and smiles to a group of homebound neighbors every Monday and Tuesday. Nancy said the moments she takes to chat with each person are as important as the food she leaves behind.
“Sometimes, I’m the only person that person sees all day. I like to provide that break in their day.”
Nancy is doing her part to create the next generation of YMOW volunteers by occasionally brining her neighbor’s children along on her route.
“They love coming,” she said, and the clients love seeing the children.
“Hardship can fall on anyone,” Nancy said, and that hardship isn’t always financial. A lack of people in one’s life can be as detrimental as a lack of income, she said, and she’s happy to have found a way to fill that void in some small way.
“I love doing what I’m doing,” Nancy said. “It’s really a win-win for both of us.”