Do you enjoy gathering around food? Making new friends? Hanging out with older adults (senior citizens)? Are you comfortable serving food, and preparing and cleaning dining areas? Sign up today to be a Dining Site Volunteer!
This opportunity is all about serving others and building positive relationships with participants of the Tri-County Office on Aging (TCOA)’s Dining Site program, which provides nutritious meals and social/recreational activity to eligible community members.
See Below For More Details:
General Responsibilities
Works as part of a team of volunteers to:
1. prepare the site for delivery of pre-cooked food from the Tri-County Office on Aging’s main kitchen.
2. greet participants and create a welcoming environment.
3. serve meals to participating seniors at the designated mealtime.
4. clean up the kitchen and the dining area, including dishes and wiping down counters and tables.
*Volunteers may be asked to attend meetings for Nutrition staff/volunteers when scheduled.
Volunteer Locations and Times
There are two Dining Site Locations near campus:
East Glen at 1801 N Hagadorn Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823
- Meals are served Mondays - Fridays at 12:30pm
- Volunteer shift is from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. (Volunteers can select certain days of the week/month to volunteer.)
Friendship Manor Apartments at 200 Friendship Cir, Lansing, MI 48912
- Meals are served Mondays – Fridays at 4:30pm
- Volunteer shift is from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. (Volunteers can select certain days of the week/month to volunteer.)
Other Locations
See all schedules/locations of Senior Dining Sites in the Tri-county area at www.tcoa.org/nutrition/senior-dining-sites/
Volunteer Onboarding Process
Interested volunteers can fill out an application at tcoa.org/volunteer.
1. A TCOA staff will review their application and process their background checks. *Please note: if a volunteer has lived outside of the state of Michigan within the last 7 years, TCOA will need to run additional background checks.
2. If approved, the volunteer should hear from a TCOA staff member within the week to confirm where they would like to volunteer. If there is any reason that a volunteer has not been approved due to a background check, a TCOA staff member will notify them.
3. The Community Nutrition Program Manager will reach out to the approved volunteer to schedule their training, which will include Meeting with the Dining Site Coordinator.
Working Conditions
- The work environment is similar to a food service setting. Safe work practices regarding kitchen equipment, avoiding trips/falls, food safety, and fire regulations are required.
- Physical mobility is required for sitting, walking, standing, bending, and lifting/holding/carrying objects of up to 40 pounds.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with participants, other volunteers, and vendors in person and over the telephone.
- Sensory requirements include exposure to various temperatures, noise levels, and lighting.
- Mental requirements include the ability to handle varying levels of stress.
You can learn more about TCOA’s volunteer opportunities at tcoa.org/volunteer.
