Opportunities From: United Way of East Central Iowa

Make a Difference in the Kitchen with Meals on Wheels!

Meals on Wheels serves our community by preparing and delivering hot, nutritious meals to clients each weekday. Volunteers play a vital role in helping us meet this mission—and we couldn’t do it without you!

Available Kitchen Opportunities:

Ingredient Preparation — 7:30/8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Assist with washing, chopping, and preparing ingredients for the day’s meals.

Assembly Line Assistance — 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Work alongside staff and fellow volunteers to assemble hot, nutritious meals.

Meal Packaging
Help package approximately 600 meals per day with a dedicated, friendly team.

Route Organization — Monday through Friday
Assist in organizing and staging meals for delivery to our clients.

Congregate Meals (Brownstone Café) — 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Support our community dining program by serving meals and engaging with guests.

Each of these roles offers the chance to work with a supportive team while making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

Join us in delivering “more than just a meal.” As a Meals on Wheels volunteer driver, you’ll provide nutritious food, a friendly visit, a safety check—and the reassurance that someone cares. Your time helps seniors remain safe and independent in their own homes.

Our dedicated volunteers deliver more than 1,000 meals each weekday across the metro area. Drivers pick up meals around 10:45 a.m. from various pick-up sites, and each route takes about one hour to complete.

Flexible Opportunities:
Our routes are both family-friendly and business-friendly. You can deliver once a week, once a month, or as your schedule allows—we’ll work with you to find a fit that works best.

Volunteer Requirements:

A current driver’s license

Your own vehicle and proof of auto insurance

Completion of a background check prior to delivering

Youth are welcome to accompany an adult driver!

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact in your community, contact us at volunteer@horizonsfamily.org or call 319-398-3943 to learn more.

You can make a difference in the life of a homebound senior in your community! Delivering “more than just a meal,” your visit will provide healthy nutrition, a safety check, a friendly smile, and the support for these individuals to remain in their homes.

Our volunteer Meals on Wheels drivers deliver over 100 meals each weekday all across the Iowa City area. Delivery drivers pick up meals between 10:30 and 11:00 am and then each delivery route takes approximately one hour.

Our routes are both family-friendly and business-friendly. Deliver one day a week, once a month – you can choose your own schedule! We can also adjust routes to meet your work schedule.

Drivers must have a current driver’s license, be able to drive their own vehicle, and must provide proof of auto insurance. Volunteers must also complete a background check prior to delivering meals. Youth are welcome to accompany an adult driver on deliveries!

Please contact jocovolunteers@horizonsfamily.org or call 319-375-3161 if you are interested!

The Student Loan Counselor needs to understand the basic range of potential student loan subjects and how to track down pertinent information. Also needs to understand what applies to a particular client’s situation, synthesizing the information and communicating suggestions and steps in a logical, understandable manner. Counseling hours and days can be flexible, although ideally somewhat consistent.

Primary activities:
• One-on-one client counseling by phone and email - Discuss questions, concerns, and priorities; assess which rules apply to the client, and which plans and programs are available to them; review loan details and repayment history (the client downloads and provides this information); address questions and discuss the trade-offs of various options; e-mail summary and next steps including attachments and/or links to additional resources; Coordinate with housing, budget and credit counselors for any additional services.
• Put together topic overviews for clients
• Create an occasional article or presentation (generally for UIOWA)
• Monitor Department of Education and Administration proposals, program announcements, and implemented changes

Primary Subjects – Federal Student Loans:
• Repayment Plans including Income-Driven Repayment (IDR)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Loan Consolidation
• Forbearance, Deferral, Economic Hardship
• Delinquency and Default
• Death and Disability Discharges
• Closed School and Borrower Defense to Repayment