For Meals on Wheels of Norman, Inc., what they do means more than a meal.
Since 1972, the organization has been a key support system in the Norman community, delivering nutritious noontime meals to the ill, disabled and elderly. Currently, Meals on Wheels serves about 300 people per day, Monday through Friday.
Often, this meal delivery is the only outside contact the clients may have each day, and the volunteers become like extended family to many of these seniors, explained Summer McGuire, executive director.
“The volunteers are all amazing people, and some of them have been delivering for 20 or 30 years,” McGuire said. “Their dedication is amazing to me, and the clients are truly a part of their lives. A lot of the clients don’t leave their houses, so they really don’t have the opportunity to socialize. I think that’s probably my favorite part is the relationship that’s created between the volunteers and the client.”
Volunteers are key to the success of the nonprofit, and over 18,000 volunteer hours were recorded in 2024. McGuire said interested people can fill out the volunteer inquiry form on mealsonwheelsnorman.com to be contacted by a staff member. They can also call the office at 405-321-7272 to learn more about opportunities on the Meals on Wheels Facebook (Meals on Wheels of Norman, Inc.) and Instagram (@mealsonwheelsnorman) pages.
There are multiple ways in which people can volunteer with Meals on Wheels. One is to deliver a route, especially in the summer when regular volunteers go on vacation. Each week, about 160 people deliver meals.
Another avenue is through the annual Meals on Wheels Golf Scramble, scheduled for Monday, July 14 at The Trails Golf Club. In December, the nonprofit holds a poinsettia sale and utilizes volunteers to deliver those purchases. Additionally, people can visit the Meals on Wheels office to assemble shelf-stable meals that are distributed during holidays and weekends.
The Meals on Wheels staff includes three full-time and two part-time staff members. McGuire said they are focused on enhancing the lives of their clients, volunteers and donors, a goal of hers when she stepped into her current role.
McGuire joined the organization in 2003 and has been executive director since March 2024. She grew up in Norman and attended the University of Oklahoma for both a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations and a master’s degree in human relations.
Before coming to Meals on Wheels, McGuire was working in Midwest City but living in Norman while attending graduate school. A family friend who was on the board of directors at the time informed her that the organization was seeking someone to lead its fundraising efforts, and she decided to apply.
“I never thought I’d be in the nonprofit sector, but I fell in love with it,” McGuire shared. “It’s so rewarding knowing what you’re doing in the office is really making an impact on someone else’s life and allowing them to stay in their home for as long as possible.”
McGuire said it has been great to be part of the community that helped raise her. Norman has also been a great place to raise her two sons, and as a huge OU fan, she enjoys game days and going to athletic events. McGuire added that it is special to be part of an organization like Meals on Wheels, which is deeply loved in the community.
“We were created as a community organization, and that’s one of the things we want to stay,” McGuire stated. “If you’re 16 and have a valid driver’s license, you can volunteer. We have college students during the school year who volunteer. We have mothers who bring their young children to volunteer. We have companies that volunteer. We have retired individuals who volunteer. We really couldn’t do without our volunteers, and they’re the true MVPs of the organization because they make it happen.”– BSM
By Chelsey Koppari
