Hatteras Island Meals seeking volunteers to keep high-risk residents home, safe and fed

Hatteras Island Meals (HIM) is seeking new volunteers to help with delivery service to high-risk residents throughout the island community, and particularly in the Tri-villages area, per a recent social media announcement.

The all-volunteer organization, which provides nutritious lunches to Hatteras Islanders in need, has recently received a financial boost thanks to funds from the Outer Banks Community Foundation and Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, and is able to extend its deliveries from four days a week to five days a week.

The drivers pick up the meals from two generous distributors on the island – Waves Market & Deli in the Tri-villages, and Diamond Shoals Restaurant in Buxton – and then deliver the meals to folks along their assigned route.

“We are short on volunteers in Tri-villages, so extra help is definitely needed,” said HIM Social Media Coordinator, Amy Hakola. “Also, a few of our volunteers are elderly and are at high risk, so we would love to find some people that wouldn’t have their health [compromised.]”

Currently, HIM is serving around 30-40 residents, but new residents with limited family members and support in the community can sign up for deliveries after a short application process.

Volunteers can donate their time as often as they would like, and even a single day of volunteering per week can make a huge dent in an island-wide need.

“This is very open to what people are able to offer,” said Hakola. “One day a week is amazing… Whatever people can do makes a big difference.”

Delivery drivers are needed throughout Hatteras Island, and anyone who can donate their time for a very worthy cause can contact Hatteras Island Meals via email at hatterasislandmeals@gmail.com, or through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/HatterasIslandMeals/.