Margarete and Valerie: Finding Friendship and Support through Volunteering

Finding Friendship through Volunteering

A single knock can change the course of two lives. Valerie Vasquez discovered this four years ago when she moved from New York to Salisbury, North Carolina, and began volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

One day, while delivering in her neighborhood, Valerie knocked on the door of a home located just a few minutes down the street from her own. A woman by the name of Margarete answered. The two instantly hit it off, so much so that Valerie returned after her route to chat some more. “We just had this immediate bond,” Margarete said.

The budding friendship couldn’t have come at a better time. About two years prior, Margarete’s husband was placed in a care facility. That left Margarete, who is bound to a wheelchair because of rheumatoid arthritis, at home alone. Unable to cook as she once did, the senior had no choice but to eat canned food. That all changed when Valerie knocked on her door. “I was thrilled to finally be eating a real meal for the first time in years,” Margarete said.

She was also thrilled to find a friend in Valerie. “She’s just the best, nicest person you could ever meet,” Margarete said. “And she looks after me. She has cleaned my floor [and] helped me move things. I don’t have to ask her. She just sees what needs to be done.”

A Friend Who Is Always There

Valerie truly goes above and beyond to help Margarete. When Margarete’s mailbox was damaged, for instance, Valerie and her husband drove 30 minutes to buy her a new one. Later, when Margarete mentioned her arthritis made it difficult to put pants on, Valerie arrived with a stack of handmade dresses she had sewn just for her.

Another time, Margarete’s phone wasn’t working. Wanting to check in before bed, Valerie walked down the street to Margarete’s home in her pajamas at 10 p.m. Humble as she is, Valerie dismisses praise. “I’m right around the corner,” she said. But to Margarete, the gesture meant everything. “I felt comforted knowing she was there for me,” she said. “Valerie won’t even go to sleep without checking to make sure I’m OK.”

Needless to say, Valerie has made quite the impression. “She has brought me a joy I didn’t know I would ever have again,” Margarete said. “I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I hadn’t met Valerie.”

Valerie’s life has been changed by the friendship, too. Margarete made her feel welcome and accepted in her new home. She also gave Valerie the opportunity to give back — an experience she finds inherently rewarding. “I get the most joy when I make someone happy,” Valerie said.

Valerie and Margarete’s bond truly demonstrates the power of Meals on Wheels. Though our overt mission is to combat senior hunger, we are also committed to providing companionship to aging adults who may not see another person for days or even weeks. This friendship helps seniors feel less lonely, but it can also help volunteers like Valerie find meaning and purpose in their lives.