Become a Volunteer Meal Driver: Just 2 Hours a Week

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois

For thousands of older adults across Illinois, a knock at the door is more than just a food delivery—it is a vital lifeline. At Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois (MOWFNI), we are dedicated to helping our senior neighbors live independently, safely, and with dignity in the homes they love. We achieve this through nutritious food, wellness checks, and the power of human connection, but we cannot do it alone. The Power of Our Volunteers Our volunteers are the heartbeat of MOWFNI. If you have just two hours a week to spare, you can make a profound difference. Delivering meals fits seamlessly into a midday routine or lunch break. As a volunteer driver, you do far more than hand over a meal; you provide a friendly smile, a warm conversation, and a crucial safety check for a senior who might not see anyone else that day. We offer flexible scheduling that allows you to volunteer weekly, monthly, or as part of a team with coworkers or friends. Our Core Programs: Home-Delivered Meals: We provide hot, medically tailored, and nutritious meals delivered directly to the doorsteps of those who cannot cook or shop for themselves. Community Cafes: Beyond home delivery, our vibrant Community Cafes offer a welcoming space for active older adults to gather, enjoy a delicious lunch, socialize, and build meaningful friendships that combat senior isolation. Make a Local Impact Today When you support or volunteer with MOWFNI, you are directly investing in the health and happiness of older adults right here in our neighborhood. Whether you are looking to give back during retirement, connect with your community, or get your local business involved in a meaningful cause, there is a place for you in our volunteer family. Join us in delivering more than a meal. Visit mowfni.org/volunteer-sign-up to fill out a brief volunteer application, or call us today to learn how you can start changing lives—one hour, one smile, and one senior at a time.

Will County

Andrea Earnest

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Bolingbrook

Illinois

For thousands of older adults across Illinois, a knock at the door is more than just a food delivery—it is a vital lifeline. At Meals on Wheels for...

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL -- A 41-year-old man from Chicago Heights died last week, one day after police in the suburb say he was the victim of an assault believed to have occurred in the rear alley of the 100 block of East 23rd Street. Jose Rodriguez died on Sept. 8 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after he was initially treated at St. James Hospital the previous evening, according to a news release from Chicago Heights police. Police say Rodriguez was the victim of a targeted attack and that the attack was not random in nature. He had suffered a skull fracture and had brain trauma, according to police. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at Christ at 3:33 p.m. on Sept. 8 with the cause of death having been listed as complications of closed head injuries due to assault, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide. "Leads are being followed at this time," according to the release. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please contact the Chicago Heights Detective Division at (708) 756-6422.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL -- A 41-year-old man from Chicago Heights died last week, one day after police in the suburb say he was the victim of an assault believed to have occurred in the rear alley of the 100 block of East 23rd Street. Jose Rodriguez died on Sept. 8 at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after he was initially treated at St. James Hospital the previous evening, according to a news release from Chicago Heights police.

Police say Rodriguez was the victim of a targeted attack and that the attack was not random in nature. He had suffered a skull fracture and had brain trauma, according to police. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at Christ at 3:33 p.m. on Sept. 8 with the cause of death having been listed as complications of closed head injuries due to assault, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The manner of death has been ruled a homicide. "Leads are being followed at this time," according to the release.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please contact the Chicago Heights Detective Division at (708) 756-6422.

Cook County

Lauren Traut

Chicago Heights

Fatal Attack In Chicago Heights 

Police say 41-year-old Jose Rodriguez died one day after he was the victim of a targeted attack last week on 23rd Street. 