Meet a volunteer: Elvin

Elvin shares a few laughs with Wes every week.

With a smile on his face and meals in his arms, Elvin has delivered meals to homebound seniors in Lehi for more than four years. He was one of the first volunteers for the Meals-on-Wheels program in Utah County. He started the volunteer route in Lehi and continues to deliver meals to some of the same seniors with who he started.

But for Elvin it is more than just running through the motions of delivering meals.

“I don’t even remember how telling jokes each week began,” says Elvin. “I started looking up two or three jokes before I go. These folks don’t have a lot to laugh about, but they are kind enough to laugh at my jokes. These jokes are expected now.”

It isn’t just Elvin’s desire to make people smile that makes him special. Elvin goes above and beyond his Meals-on-Wheels volunteer duties. He changes hard to reach light bulbs, runs light errands and other tasks all beyond the call of duty. But he claims the benefits go both ways.

“It is as good for me as it is for them,” says Elvin. “I look forward to it every week. I just love them; they are like family.”

Many seniors on Elvin’s route have called into the Meals-on-Wheels office over the years to thank him for his service. One of the clients he has delivered to since he started volunteering says that she lives for him to come and visit her. In the weeks before she passed away in late January 2011, Elvin kept close contact with her family and continued to visit her at home, even after she stopped receiving meals and went on hospice.

His love for people extends beyond just helping Meals-on-Wheels seniors. He is known as the handy man in his neighborhood and is constantly fixing things for people who cannot fix it themselves. Elvin is also a member of RSVP or Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

“He is very giving,” said Jane, his wife of 36 years. “He is very happy and optimistic and hardly ever gets down. He just does things for people, always thinking of things he can do.”

An Idaho native, Elvin moved south to study family relations and child development at Utah State University where he was voted Most Preferred Man by the local sororities. He spent his career in sales and marketing and has owned many of his own businesses. He is now semi-retired, still working part time and delivering meals on his time off.

Elvin and Jane live in Lehi. They have two children and six grandchildren.

Thanks for being such an amazing volunteer. We couldn't do it without you!