Volunteer Spotlight

Since joining Meals on Wheels Durham in July 2024, Patrick has quickly become an invaluable part of our team, making a meaningful difference in the lives of the seniors we serve. As an on-call driver, Patrick has played an essential role in ensuring that our seniors receive the meals they rely on by stepping in to cover routes when needed.

Patrick’s journey to MOWD began with a desire to find meaningful volunteer opportunities he could share with his daughter. As an English instructor at Durham Tech Community College, he was looking for a way to give back in a completely different capacity from teaching. When he noticed that MOWD had an ongoing need for drivers, he knew it was the perfect way to serve people’s most basic needs—by delivering nutritious meals directly to their doors.

One of the things Patrick enjoys most about volunteering with Meals on Wheels Durham is the chance to connect with clients, even if it’s just to wish them a good morning. “I love interacting with the clients,” he shares, “and the staff at MOWD are so friendly and passionate about what they do. It’s truly one of the most fun volunteering experiences I’ve had.”

Though Patrick began volunteering regularly with us in July, his connection to MOWD goes back over a decade, when he first delivered meals sporadically. His recent return has been a welcome one, as his dedication and willingness to step in as an on-call driver have made a big difference in keeping our services running smoothly.

Outside of his work with MOWD, Patrick leads a full and busy life. He’s lived in Durham for nearly twenty years, but his roots are in southeast Michigan. When he’s not teaching or volunteering, he enjoys coaching middle school cross-country and spending time with his teenage children, who are also passionate runners. In addition to running, Patrick loves reading, writing, hiking, and taking care of his dog, Argo.

Patrick’s impact at Meals on Wheels Durham extends beyond just delivering meals—his kindness and commitment shine through in every route he covers. We’re incredibly fortunate to have volunteers like him who are willing to jump in and help whenever the need arises!

Brenda joined Meals on Wheels Durham in April 2024 and has already made a significant impact! In just a few months, Brenda has generously contributed an impressive 53 hours of her time. Her dedication to preparing meal deliveries, as well as bagging and tagging pet food, has been instrumental in keeping our clients—and their beloved pets—happy, healthy, and connected.

A retired Registered Nurse, Brenda was searching for a meaningful way to continue helping others, and she found that opportunity with MOWD. The flexibility of volunteering allowed her to give back to the community while fitting into her lifestyle. Brenda shared, "I enjoy coming in and working as a team to get the meals ready for the drivers. The atmosphere is inviting, and I always feel my time volunteering is appreciated."

Originally from New Hyde Park, New York, Brenda and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2000. With a nursing career spanning 34 years, Brenda has served in various roles, including as a nurse at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Butner, a clinical manager at a hemodialysis clinic, and an Occupational Health Nurse.

When she's not volunteering, Brenda enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, crocheting, making wooden models, and doing diamond dotz and jigsaw puzzles. She's even planning to create unique end tables using jigsaw puzzles as the tabletop. Brenda also has a deep love for animals and is a proud pet parent to two cats, Lucy and Ricky.

Brenda (middle) is pictured with two of her former coworkers.

From everyone at Meals on Wheels Durham, we extend a heartfelt thank you to Brenda for her incredible service and the positive impact she continues to make in our community!

Allison Lee has been a dedicated volunteer with Meals on Wheels Durham since July 2023, completing an impressive 171 Wellness Calls, often reaching out to clients on routes G, H, and Q+ in the past year. That's over 170 hours of meaningful connection!

Allison's motivation to volunteer with MOWD stems from her personal experience—her grandfather was a client of Meals on Wheels Durham from the late '70s to the mid-'80s, and the program made a significant difference in his life. She now pays this kindness forward by bringing joy and companionship to others.

Her favorite part about being a Wellness Caller is checking in regularly with her MOW friends. These conversations always reveal something they have in common, whether it’s a favorite season, a family member, a recipe, or the weather. Each call is filled with mutual gratitude and shared stories.

Outside of her volunteer work, Allison enjoys cooking, gardening, and listening to all kinds of music. She has three children who live in the area and two grandsons who are NCSU graduates—one residing in Raleigh and the other in NYC. Allison retired in 2019 after a fulfilling 19-year career in Marketing with several Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities in the Triangle.

From everyone at Meals on Wheels Durham, we extend a huge thank you to Allison for her incredible volunteer service and the positive impact she continues to make in our community!

Barbra Roberman has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels Durham since November 2023. She comes to help inside the facility or drive a route about once a week, her favored route being 27701A in the Old North Durham area. Barbra is always willing to jump in and help where needed, often bagging pet food when it’s getting low, or driving and helping inside on the same day! She even created name tags for all the inside helpers one day so that they could all get a chance to know each other.

Barbra started volunteering with MOWD after she heard about the opportunity from other volunteers. Her favorite part of volunteering at MOWD is how friendly the clients, volunteers, and staff are. 

Barbra has been married for 43 years and has two adult children. She moved here 36 years ago from New York City, and worked for over 25 years as a midwife in a private practice and at Duke. She loves to bike, hike, and kayak. 

From everyone at Meals on Wheels Durham, we want to give Barbra a huge ‘thank you!’ for her volunteer service.

Doug Sherry has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels Durham since May 2023! He is currently an adopted hot meal route driver, taking Route 27703A in eastern Durham every Wednesday, and often picking up additional routes when there’s a need. Doug started volunteering at MOWD because he wanted to give back to his community in a meaningful way; his mother was a Meals on Wheels client, so he wants to be able to reciprocate that same service for others who need a hot meal. 

His favorite part of volunteering is interacting with the clients—being able to greet them on the phone and then handing them their meal, brightening their day in just a few seconds. One of Doug’s favorite experiences while volunteering was when he was making deliveries to a Durham school that had been renovated into housing. He inquired of one client about the history of the school, having been a teacher himself, and she told him that she went to this school as a young girl. In fact, the apartment she rented was once her classroom!

Doug and his wife Claudia have two daughters and five amazing grandchildren. They previously lived in Asheville, and moved to Durham to be closer to one of their daughters. They have a passion for traveling, and have visited over 25 countries around the world! Doug and Claudia also love visiting gardens and arboretums, some of their favorites being Duke Gardens; Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia; and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

From everyone at Meals on Wheels Durham, we want to give Doug a huge ‘thank you!’ for his volunteer service.