Volunteer Delivery Guide

VOLUNTEER GUIDE FOR HOME-DELIVERED MEALS

Download a PDF Version 

Thank you for volunteering with Meals on Wheels Montgomery County. Your service provides nourishment, safety checks, and meaningful connections to seniors in our community. For many, a Meals on Wheels volunteer is often the only person they interact with in a day, sometimes the only human connection all week. This handbook outlines the procedures that help ensure safe, reliable, and compassionate delivery service.

HOME DELIVERED MEAL ROUTE PICK UP GUIDELINES

Pick up meals and any additional delivery items at your assigned location and designated time.

• Conroe and The Woodlands 10:30 AM

• Magnolia, Montgomery, New Caney, and Willis 11:00 AM

 A route sheet will be provided at pickup. It includes the client’s name, address, and important delivery notes.

Before leaving the pick-up site, count all items to ensure you’re prepared for a successful delivery.

HOME DELIVERED MEAL ROUTES PICKUP LOCATIONS & TIMES

*Remote locations have different cooler return policies. Please consult the Meals on Wheels Staff Driver at pick up.

• Conroe – 111 S. 2nd Street, Conroe, TX 77301

  • Building closes at 3:00 pm

• *Magnolia – 31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia, TX 77355

• *Montgomery – 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery, TX 77356

• *New Caney – 21679 McCleskey Road, New Caney, TX 77357

• The Woodlands – 1400 Woodloch Forest Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77380

  • The Woodlands empty cooler return cutoff: 1:00 PM. If the cooler return cutoff is missed, return Monday–Friday between 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM (excluding holidays).

• *Willis – 600 Gerald Street, Willis, TX 77378

HOT & FROZEN MEAL VOLUNTEERS

• All hot and frozen meals must be placed in coolers during delivery to maintain safe temperatures.

• You may:

  • Use Meals on Wheels coolers and return them after completing your route

  • Use your own cooler (must be sanitized between each use).

DELIVERY GUIDELINES

Follow any driver instructions listed beneath the client’s name and address.

 Deliver all items listed on your route sheet. (meals, breakfast bags, pet food, gifts, etc.)

If the Client Does Not Answer

• Call the number on the route sheet to leave a message. Dial *67 before the number to block your personal phone number.

• Leave a short voicemail such as “This is Meals on Wheels attempting to deliver your meal…sorry, we missed you.”

• Leave a “Sorry We Missed You” door hanger.

  • Need Door Hangers? All delivery vans are equipped with a supply of door hangers. Ask your Staff Driver or contact Volunteer Relations.

If No One Is Home

• DO NOT leave hot or frozen meals.

  • You may offer extra hot meals to another client.

  • If a hot meal remains at the end of your route, you may:

    • Consume it

    • Give it to someone in need

    • Discard it

  • Return frozen meals to the office or staff driver. Please properly store the frozen meals until they can be returned.

  • Report undeliverable meals to MEALS ON WHEELS MONTGOMERY COUNTY by documenting the missed meal on the route sheet tag. If you’re not returning the route sheet on the same day, please report the missed meal by using the number in the upper left corner of the route sheet.

  • Gifts, Ani-Meals, and Breakfast Bags may be left at the door if the items are shielded from potential weather conditions.

ROUTE SHEET SIGNATURE GUIDELINES

• Sign or initial for successful deliveries.

• Do not sign for undelivered meals. Leave the signature line blank if the client is not home. Record missed deliveries and additional comments on the route sheet tag (not the route sheet).

• At the end of your route, sign to confirm route completion.

ROUTE COMPLETION

Weekday Home-Delivered Meal Volunteers

Return the following:

• Coolers (please check with staff for the cooler return policy for New Caney, Magnolia, Montgomery, and Willis)

• Route sheets: We will accept a scan of the route sheet, but we ask you to submit the original by the end of the month.

  • Feel free to send the original route sheet in the mail: Meals on Wheels Montgomery County, 111 So. 2nd Street, Conroe, TX 77301

SATURDAY BREAKFAST BAG DELIVERY

• Pickup typically occurs on Thursday and Friday before the designated Saturday delivery.

• All Breakfast Bag routes pick up in Conroe.

• Refer to SignUpGenius for pick up dates and route details

• Signatures are not required for Breakfast Bag deliveries.

• As a reminder, delivery guidelines will be attached to your route sheet.

·         Please shred the route sheet once the route is complete to protect client confidentiality

OBERVATION & DOCUMENTATION

• If you notice unusual changes in behavior or surroundings:

  • Call the number listed in the upper left corner of the route sheet.

  • Document concerns on the route sheet tag, not the route sheet itself.

  • If abuse is suspected, follow the “Addressing Elder Abuse” section.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

If a client requires emergency medical attention:

1. Dial 911 immediately.

2. Remain with the client until emergency personnel arrive.

3. Notify the Meals on Wheels Montgomery County by calling the number in the upper left corner of the route sheet, 936.271.2181.

CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENT

All active volunteers must annually review the Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging (HGAC) Safeguarding Confidential Information eLearning course. HGAC provides grant funding that supports our meal program. Completion of this training helps ensure compliance.

ADDRESSING ELDER ABUSE

Our Responsibility

Isolated adults are at increased risk of neglect and abuse. All staff and volunteers are ethically and legally required to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Definition of Elder Abuse

Any intentional, knowing, or negligent act that causes harm or serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult, including:

• Physical abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Neglect

• Exploitation

• Emotional abuse

• Abandonment

• Self-neglect

Reporting Requirements

Texas law requires suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to be reported within 24 hours.

Adult Protective Services prefers the witness report directly:

Online: www.txabusehotline.org
Phone: 1.800.252.5400

If you are unable to file a report, contact Meals on Wheels Montgomery County immediately using the number on the route sheet or contact the Volunteer Relations team.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I sign up for a route?

Every Friday, Volunteer Relations distributes an email at 1:00 pm. Under the header, WAYS TO ENGAGE, all volunteer opportunities will be listed for the upcoming week and month.

Please get in touch with Volunteer Relations if you would like to consider a permanent route assignment.

Unable to deliver your route?
Contact Volunteer Relations as soon as possible:
Volunteers@mowmc.org | 936.756.5849

How do I clean my personal cooler?
Sanitize between uses with Clorox wipes or a bleach-water solution.

What if I feel unsafe?
Do not complete a delivery if you feel threatened or unsafe.
Call MEALS ON WHEELS MONTGOMERY COUNTY immediately – 936.271.2181.

Questions during delivery?
Call 936.271.2181 (number listed on upper left corner of route sheet).

What is the Volunteer Hub?

Information to help you be a successful volunteer.

Pick Up Locations

FAQ

Current Menu

Holiday Schedule

Delivery Guide

Inclement Weather Policy and more

What is the QR Code at the top of the route sheet?

The QR code takes you directly to the VOLUNTEER HUB page.

We sincerely appreciate your commitment to volunteering with us. Your kindness and generosity have a meaningful impact on those we serve.

Thank you for helping us be more than a meal.

Meals on Wheels Montgomery County Volunteer Relations

Update: February 26, 2026