Called to fill in Monday for meal delivery

They wanted me to do Tuesday also, but I felt doing it 3 days a week is a bit much. The person I talked with said they thought they had a new volunteer driver lined up to work, but when shown the route, backed out. They didn't realize it's almost 30 miles - and no pay or gas reimbursement.
 

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Yep that could be a bite in the budget. They should have an emergency account for these types of things?
30 miles for me in Turbos woud run around $5 but with stops ever few mile figure double or triple to $15.
Gas is reasonable here. Say $70 a fill up.

Foundations should be able to answer that need. NY has Citymealsonwheels with charitable foundation for this stuff.
So much bad luck a happening now.
 
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They need to rework their boundaries.
I've taken that up with the agency before. I drive the Stillwater route, but it also includes parts of Mechanicville and Saratoga. They won't change it. This is the route of my usual delivery day on Thursday. However, on Mondays, Wednesdays ad Fridays, there's another person that would be just above and to the right of letter I on the map. This is the current client list which can change any time.
A is the meal distribution center
B and I are technically in Mechanicville
D, E and F are in Saratoga

meal route Feb 2025.jpg
 
They wanted me to do Tuesday also, but I felt doing it 3 days a week is a bit much. The person I talked with said they thought they had a new volunteer driver lined up to work, but when shown the route, backed out. They didn't realize it's almost 30 miles - and no pay or gas reimbursement.
Did you call Instacart here just downstate from you. Is that who you are referring to? I"ve had one mistake with them in that they delivered my oder to the wrong door and it sat out in the sun. They refunded my money and iwthin 2 hours had my order refilled and to my door. I can't complain.
 
Did you call Instacart here just downstate from you. Is that who you are referring to? I"ve had one mistake with them in that they delivered my oder to the wrong door and it sat out in the sun. They refunded my money and iwthin 2 hours had my order refilled and to my door. I can't complain.
This has nothing to do with Instacart. ;)
 
Non-profits don't give refunds since they don't collect any money. I used to drive for a "Meals on Wheels" type thing in Flagstaff years ago, and it was all paid for by donations. They of course provided the food, they had a catering truck I used, and I got a free dinner. It was about a 7 mile route. It took me about 2 hours to deliver everything. I probably could have done it faster, but they wanted med to spend a few minutes yakking with the people I was delivering food to. And now that I don't get out much, I can see why more than back then. It was a fun thing to do, and I got paid well with smiles!
 
This agency charges clients $2 for a meal.
Understandable because a few people might just take free food.

Does the agency do fund raising to help with the costs.

Unless they have no funds, imo, they should be helping with the costs of gas and wear and tear on your vehicle.
 
Great plan with Eggs over $6 a dozen.
When I was injured with broken femur, broken hip and 2 broken Arms in cast I had Meals for wheels.
A couple of weeks, me around 6 weeks out of surgery and I started calling a cab and getting food.
I could only take so much of the Bland stuff. It was good at first but just not hanging in there after
those 1st 14 dinners. I actually started to loose track of them, then they saw them on the step the
next day. I greatly appreciated the Meals on Wheels, but it just became gut wrenching painfully
apparent I could not take another Dinner. I was to young at 51 to accept the gift.
 
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Does the agency do fund raising to help with the costs.
I've never heard of any. They also waive liability on the drivers if their vehicle is damaged, if they are injured when delivering meals, or they cause damage to a client's property. One time I delivered the day after a wind storm. I came around a curve going about 40MPH and there was a tree blown down across the road. Of course I hit it and it bent the front passenger side wheel rim. They refused to pay for the repair.
 
Doubt that Meals on Wheels will be around much longer, since they get federal funding.
 


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