Celebrating volunteers who show up and make a lasting difference every day
At Meals on Wheels People, our volunteers are the driving force behind everything we do. Over the past year, 2,004 incredible individuals dedicated more than 95,792 hours to supporting their aging neighbors across the Portland-Vancouver metro area — an impact valued at $3.57 million in cost savings.
In honor of National Volunteer Month, we’re excited to celebrate six volunteers whose generosity, creativity, and commitment bring our mission to life. They live our values of Integrity, Respect, Inclusion, Creativity, Commitment, and Teamwork — reminding us every day why community matters. Meet them below.
Keith Salenger | Greeter | 11 years
When Keith moved to Portland, he looked for a way to keep doing the kind of volunteering he’d done back in Minnesota — helping at food pantries and delivering meals to older adults.
He found that community at Meals on Wheels People. Having cared for his own aging mother, Keith understands how vulnerable many older adults can be. Today, he greets volunteer drivers at the Southwest Center twice a week.
“What keeps me coming back are the volunteers I work with,” he says, pictured here with fellow volunteer Ellen Goldschmidt. “For me, it’s my community. And there’s still more than ever a need.”
Deanna Plewik | Dining Center Support | 10 Years
Deanna didn’t set out to volunteer — she answered a call for fans to help older adults during a summer heat wave. When she dropped them off at a Meals on Wheels People center, she saw the lunch service in action.
“I loved it,” she says. “I just kept coming back.”
Now a regular at the Forest Grove Center with over 1,100 volunteer hours, Deanna starts mornings helping in the kitchen before moving into the dining room, making sure everyone has what they need.
“No matter who I run into, be the drivers who take meals or the visitors who come to dine, they’re just so appreciative,” she says. “They just feel so blessed. Because they feel blessed, I feel blessed as well.”
Pankaj Ramesh | Dining Center Support | 1 Year
Pankaj, or PK as he’s known at the Luepke Center, moved to Southwest Washington last year to help his wife care for her mother — and quickly found his way into the kitchen at Meals on Wheels People.
With 15 years running a restaurant in India, he knows his way around a commercial kitchen. Now he helps wherever needed: chopping vegetables, prepping desserts, cleaning, or serving lunch.
“It’s the people,” he says. “Everyone here is so kind, so thankful. There’s a lot of heart.”
Lauri Howe | Friendly Chats Caller | 6 Years
Food has always been Lauri’s “thing.” She watched her dad deliver meals with Meals on Wheels People and has volunteered at her church’s food pantry for more than 25 years. When she retired, she wanted to spend more time giving back.
Her years in sales made her a natural for Friendly Chats. Now, she’s logged more than 1,000 hours calling older adults who may not have anyone else to talk to. Some conversations are lighthearted; others turn into long talks about faith, life stories, or what someone really needs help with.
“They really appreciate it,” she says. “They love their delivery guys. They really like Meals on Wheels People. It makes it pretty easy to make these calls.”
Guruka Singh | Friendly Tech Visitor | 1 Year
After retiring from a decades-long career in technology, Guruka went looking for a way to help. He found it at Meals on Wheels People. As a Friendly Tech Visits volunteer, he helps older adults navigate phones, tablets, and laptops so they can stay connected to family, health care, and the world around them.
“People are very unsure of themselves,” he says. “Just having someone sit with them, it helps them a lot.”
Guruka also volunteers with Friendly Chats, offering connection and companionship to those who need it most. “It’s fun to bring joy to people in this way.”
Debi Stedron | Meals 4 Kids Delivery Driver | 10 Years
Debi volunteered with Meals on Wheels People for six years before finding her perfect fit in Meals 4 Kids. A retired nurse and teacher, she delivers nutritious meals and grocery boxes every Thursday, watching children light up and parents breathe a little easier knowing help has arrived at the door.
“It’s so rewarding to see them come to the door,” she says. “The little kids are so excited to get a bag of oranges. They’re just so excited.”
Even while managing health challenges, Debi shows up with care, positivity, and a commitment that makes a real difference in her community.
Will You Join Us?
We rely on more than 312 volunteers every day to deliver meals to homebound seniors, make Friendly Chats calls, serve lunch at our dining centers, and so much more. Will you join us?
