Make a Real Difference in Someone’s Life
Are you a teen looking to contribute to your community, earn service hours, and have a meaningful impact on the lives of others? Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland welcomes you to explore our diverse youth volunteer opportunities.
Serving Central Maryland Since 1960
Have Fun While Making a Difference
- Earn Service Hours: Fulfill your service requirements while making a genuine difference.
- Learn About Meals on Wheels: Gain valuable insights into our mission and operations.
- Help Homebound Individuals: Make a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most.
- Have Fun While Making a Difference: Engage in rewarding activities and meet like-minded people
Youth Volunteer Opportunities
Meal Delivery During School Breaks
Age Requirement: Any age with an adult
Meal Packing
Age Requirement: 14-17 years old with an adult or liability waiver.
Fundraise
Host an event with a local business on behalf of Meals on Wheels.
Age Requirement: No age requirement
Service Projects
Design your unique service project to brighten the day of homebound aging adults, sharing your special gifts and spreading joy to our clients.
Age Requirement: No age requirement
Ready to Start Volunteering?
Send us a message or complete a volunteer application today!
Teen Ambassador Program
Sponsored by Mariner Finance, this summer leadership program gives rising 9th–12th graders the opportunity to build professional development skills while earning service hours. The two-week program runs Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM at Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland. TAP will continue its innovative partnership with YouthWorks, a Baltimore City summer youth employment program.
Activities:
- 3.5 hours of active volunteering in our meal-packing kitchen
- 1.5 hours of engaging educational sessions
- 30-minute break for lunch
- Breaks and reflections
Requirements:
- Rising 9th-12th graders in good standing
- Completed volunteer and TAP applications, and signed parent/guardian waiver
- COVID-19 vaccination and masks may be required during the program
- Ability to stand for over 3 hours on a fast-paced kitchen line
Information about TAP 2027 will be released in March 2027.
TAP Participants Will:
- Meet like-minded high school students who care about our mission and volunteering
- Learn about the work we do for the homebound in our community
- Participate in daily educational seminars
- Earn over 20 hours of community service through meaningful hands-on volunteer opportunities
- Create and implement a project individually or in a small group to use their voice and experiences during the program to further the mission of Meals on Wheels
- Deliver meals to clients
Upon completion of the program, participants will receive:
- Certificate of Completion
- Letter detailing community service hours completed
- Ability to volunteer at MOWCM without an adult present
For more information about participating in the summer, please email vs@mowcm.org.
What Teens + Parents Say About TAP
“I really enjoyed TAP and feel like I grew so much as a leader in just two weeks. I learned a lot, had a great experience and would definitely love to come back as a mentor!” – Elijah
“Before TAP, I didn’t really know much about Meals on Wheels or how food insecurity affects older adults. Being part of the program really opened my eyes and made me care more about the issue and how I can help make a difference.” – Michelle
As a mentor, I really enjoyed being someone the other students could look to for direction and support. It helped me become more confident and grow my leadership skills.” –Charles
“Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything about the program. We got to learn about different topics while still having fun, and I also made some new friends along the way.” – Astrid
Teen Learning Sessions Include
- Fundraising
- Nonprofits 101
- Marketing
- Networking
- Management
- Advocacy
- Mindfulness
- Interview Skills
- Leadership
- Partnerships
Final Projects Include
- Creating videos about volunteering at Meals on Wheels
- Writing letters to elected officials about the importance of funding for senior nutrition programs
- Creating a flyer to distribute at school about Meals on Wheels
- Creating a fundraiser
For more information about TAP Summer 2027, email volunteer@mowcm.org.
To participate in TAP through Youthworks, apply directly to Youthworks and request Meals on Wheels.
TAP 2026 SUMMER RECAP
30 youth participated in the Summer 2026 program, including 22 TAP students and 8 YouthWorks participants. Five returning students also served as mentors, taking on leadership roles for their second year.
Highlights include:
- Meaningful volunteer work in the kitchen
- Field trips to deliver meals to clients
- Visit to Mariner Finance to learn about career paths, money management, building credit scores and more!
- Special visit from Chris Lillis, 2x Gold Medalist, who joined youth to pack and deliver meals
- During Parents’ Day, parents joined the youth for a morning of learning more about Meals on Wheels and volunteering together.
- Celebration and project presentation at the end of the session
What is Youthworks partnership?
Youthworks is a paid summer job for young people ages 14-21 living in Baltimore City. Youth worked 5 weeks, Monday-Friday, 9am-2:30pm. The program was designed for participants to gain workforce readiness and career-specific skills. During Summer 2026, 8 youthworks participants were placed at Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland and participated in the TAP Leadership program.
20 different schools were represented
- Archbishop Spalding High School
- Atholton High School
- Centennial High School
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
- Eastern Technical High School
- Franklin High School
- Friends School of Baltimore
- George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology
- Glenelg High School
- Home Schooled
- Long Reach High School
- Loyola Blakefield
- Marriotts Ridge High School
- Old Mill Senior High School
- Overlea High School
- Perry Hall High School
- St. Timothy’s School
- The Bryn Mawr School
- The Park School of Baltimore
- Towson High School
How We Serve
We provide nutritious meals to people who are homebound and unable to shop or cook for themselves – because of age, disability, or illness.
Ways to Give
Our caring staff conducts regular well-being check-ins during meal deliveries. This ensures that aging adults receive the support they need to maintain their health. We’re not just a meal; we’re a lifeline to better physical and emotional health.
Volunteer
We empower aging adults to maintain their independence with our “More than a meal℠” service. Beyond food, we provide resources, education, and home safety assessments. Our goal is to enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible.
Teen Volunteers, Elevate Your Impact!
Ready to make a meaningful difference in your community? Join Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland’s Teen Volunteer Opportunities and embark on a journey of service, growth, and impact.