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
Grocery Shopping
Age Requirement: Any age with an adult
Requirements: A 9-12 month commitment, attend a volunteer orientation session, and pass a background check.
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
A summer leadership experience, professional development skills, and service hours for rising 9th-12th graders, spanning two weeks, Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:30PM. The experience takes place at Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland. TAP will continues its innovative partnership with Youthworks, a Baltimore City Summer Program for Youth.
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
TAP Applications for Summer 2025 Open in March
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
“It’s the most fun I’ve had volunteering so I hope to keep coming back.” Zoya R.
“It has been what I expected and more. I’ve met new people and it’s been great.” Anna R.
“I pretty much learned about leadership. I am also able to have fun during the process.” Zayquone J.
“I liked what the program was about- I like giving back to my community and helping people out.” Jayden D.
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 2025, email vs@mowcm.org. Applications will be available March 2025.
To participate in TAP through Youthworks, apply directly to Youthworks and request Meals on Wheels. Applications open in January 2025.
TAP 2024 SUMMER RECAP
Thanks to Mariner Finance as the presenting sponsor for Summer 2024!
33 youth participated in the Summer 2024 program! 5 youth were mentors, coming back for a second year in a leadership role.
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!
- During our first Parents Day, parents joined the youth for one morning to learn more about Meals on Wheels and volunteer 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 2024, 10 youth were placed at Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland and participated in the TAP Leadership program.
21 different schools were represented (one student was homeschooled)
- Archbishop Spalding High School
- Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts
- Bryn Mawr School
- City College
- City Neighbors High School
- Digital Harbor
- Dulaney High School
- Eastern Technical High School
- Friends School of Baltimore
- George Washington Carver Center of Arts and Technology
- Home Schooled
- Jemicy
- Milford Mill Academy
- McDonogh School
- National Academy Foundation
- Notre Dame Preparatory
- Patterson High School
- Quarry Lake School (California)
- Renaissance Academy
- Sandy Spring Friends School
- Towson High School
- Vivien T. Thomas Medical Art
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 seniors 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 seniors 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.
Support Today
Join us in making a difference in the lives of Central Maryland’s seniors. Your support ensures that we can continue to offer “More than a meal™” and create a thriving, connected community. Together, we can make sure that no senior feels alone or hungry. Donate now to support our mission and brighten the lives of those who’ve enriched our community for years.
