Tri-County Office On Aging

Seeking volunteers for the Tri-County Office on Aging’s Dining Sites! This opportunity is all about serving others and building positive relationships with participants of TCOA’s Dining Site program, which provides nutritious meals and social/recreational activity to eligible community members.

Do you enjoy gathering around food? Making new friends? Are you comfortable serving food, and preparing and cleaning dining areas? Sign up today to be a Dining Site Volunteer!

See Below For More Details:

General Responsibilities:

Coordinates with the Community Nutrition Program Manager and the Central Kitchen to provide meals to participants at senior dining sites. Serves food and establishes positive relationships with program participants.

Essential Volunteer Functions:

(Reasonable accommodation will be provided, if necessary, for individuals with disabilities who can perform the essential job functions.)

• Helps prepare the site for delivery of food from the Central Kitchen.
• Sets up food stations, greets participants, and provides a welcoming environment.
• Ability to collect participant information and assist with National Aging Program Information Systems (NAPIS) registration forms.
• May be asked to ensure that appropriate food temperatures and presentations standards during meal service.
• Follows procedures for proper handling of food, equipment, and donations.
• Maintain, complete, and return paperwork in a timely manner.
• Follow cleanliness guidelines throughout the meal service. Cleans the eating, serving, and cooking areas at the end of each day.
• Attends Nutrition meetings when scheduled.
• Examples of job functions listed do not include tasks which may be found in this position. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, or modified at any time.

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.

Volunteer Location:

Varies throughout Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties

Base Work Schedule:

Varies depending on location. See schedules/locations at https://www.tcoa.org/nutrition/senior-dining-sites/

Become a Meals on Wheels Deliverer for the Tri-County Office on Aging!

Make a difference during your lunchtime by signing up as a driver for Meals on Wheels! Drivers deliver meals to eligible recipients throughout the Tri-County Area (drivers will determine what areas/distances work for them). As a driver, you will do more than just deliver meals – you may also be a friendly face to an individual struggling with social isolation or a regular human connection for someone unable to leave their home.

(Groups/Companies can adopt routes for a team of volunteers to fill regularly. Become an official partner today!)

See below for more details.

Volunteer Position: Home Delivered Meals Driver                          Revised: December 2023

General Responsibilities:

Responsible for picking up food from designated locations and delivering to a participant’s home according to the information on a route sheet.

Essential Volunteer Functions:

(Reasonable accommodations will be provided, if necessary, for individuals with disabilities who can perform the essential job functions)

• Works under the guidance of the Volunteer Coordinator of their delivery
• Pick up food from designated specified locations and deliver to participant’s
• Provide accurate and timely delivery to participants on a designated
• Communicate directly and immediately with office staff any concerns regarding
• Communicate with office any concerns about scheduling or difficulties with delivers. As an example, a route changing and it now being twice as long.
• Complete all required paper work on the route sheets and return to the clipboard and return coolers and hot bags to proper
• Examples of volunteer functions listed do not include all tasks which may be found in this position. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Commitment to the organization’s missions and
• Ability to maintain confidential information regarding all aspects of client, volunteer, and agency
• Ability to work independently or as part of a
• Good organizational skills and the ability to effectively communicate with staff members, other volunteers, participants, and
• Ability to represent the Agency in a professional
• Must be able to adjust priorities to meet deadlines in a timely
• Comfortable working with people of varying socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, and racial
• Physical mobility is required for sitting, walking, bending and long bouts of standing. Must be able to lift 20 pounds.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA):

All volunteers who have access to protected health information or personally identifiable information, are required by the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule to receive training so that they have an understanding and knowledge of the Privacy and Security Rule that corresponds to their duties. Training on the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule and the policies and procedures is a prerequisite for this position. Employees and volunteers who violate the requirements of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule will be subject to discipline up to and including volunteer privileges.

Reports to:

Volunteer Coordinator for delivery area

Volunteer Location:

Varies throughout Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties.

Base work schedule:

Non-Frozen route Monday – Friday, between 10:30am and 1:30 pm EST and  Frozen routes between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm EST.

Help Older Adults Navigate Medicare — Volunteer with TCOA!

TCOA is looking for caring volunteers to serve as SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselors in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties.

As a SHIP counselor, you’ll receive state-level training, get certified, and become a trusted resource for older adults and individuals with disabilities as they navigate Medicare.

You’ll help people:
✅ Understand new health care options.
✅ Understand and apply for Medicare and Medicaid.
✅ Compare or enroll in Medicare and Medicare prescription drug coverage.
✅ Review Medicare supplemental insurance needs.
✅ Identify and report Medicare fraud and scams.

This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone pursuing a career in social work, human services, health care or elder law, or for anyone interested in gaining meaningful experience while supporting their community.

SHIP counselors provide unbiased, free guidance — never selling insurance or representing any company — and make a real difference in the lives of those they serve.

To learn more, email [email protected] or visit tcoa.org/volunteer.

Help us spread the word — your time and compassion could change someone’s life.

* This program is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $82,981 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.