Osterville Men's Club

Meals on Wheels originated in Great Britain during World War II to assist in the feeding of those displaced by the Blitz. The name "Meals on Wheels" actually derives from the delivery method of bringing meals in prams, carts, bicycles with basket, cars and other wheeled vehicles staffed by the Women's Volunteer Service for Civil Defense.

In 1954 Margaret Toy, a social worker in Philadelphia, introduced Meals on Wheels to the United States, with the Older Americans Act of 1965 providing federal support for community-based senior nutrition. The program addresses senior hunger and isolation through volunteer driven meal deliveries, which serves over 2.2 million individuals annually across the United States.

The Osterville Men’s Club began to participate in Meals on Wheels in the spring of 2017 with just a few volunteer drivers who covered a single route. The program is under the direction of Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands (ESCCI) and “provides nutritious, often free-or-low-cost, home-delivered meals and safety checks to seniors and adults with disabilities who are homebound or unable to prepare their own food.” After one year there were 17 volunteer drivers from the Osterville Men's Club servicing three routes in the Osterville, Marstons Mills, Centerville area.

Dave Cady, who does a remarkable job of coordinating volunteers, said that “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our team was delivering across five routes to 28 clients. As the pandemic intensified, our numbers adjusted to 12 to15 dedicated drivers maintaining three active routes. In late 2022, with more volunteers ready to return, we proudly added a fourth route.” However, in addition to delivering meals, volunteer drivers serve a vital role in offering wellness checks, friendly conversation, and a warm smile to those we serve. This human connection is deeply valued by our clients. One enthusiastic volunteer said “This is a fun volunteer gig. When there are enough volunteers, the routes can be sometimes only 30 min to an hour. Late morning, early afternoons. The kind of thing where you can grab a cup of coffee and say hi to a bunch of folks and still be back before it's done or gets cold. People complain about being locked into the schedule, but that doesn't happen. Work what you can it's fun. People usually light up when you come by and it's nice to have a few people look forward to seeing you and ask how it's going.”

In 2025, OMC continued its commitment with 24 volunteers delivering over 2,750 meals and driving more than 3,500 miles. Their efforts generated more than $3,000 for the Osterville Men’s Club, strengthening our ability to support initiatives like the Scholarship Fund and other community programs.

If you might have a few hours on a Friday morning to volunteer to deliver meals, you might get more out of it than you might think. Volunteers can drive once or twice a month as a regular or substitute driver and you would undoubtedly put a smile on a neighbor’s face.

To learn more or volunteer, please contact Dave Cady at davidcady@comcast.net.