Dynamic Duo Delivering More Than Meals

When it comes to Meals on Wheels deliveries, most of us probably understand the benefit to the recipients. After all, folks in need who are receiving meals is not that complicated a concept. But what about the benefits to the volunteers who deliver the meals?

Consider Conner and Doug. This dynamic duo has been delivering Meals on Wheels together for six years. What makes them stand out is that Conner is autistic and essentially nonverbal, and Doug is employed as his caregiver. According to Doug, he’s simply the sidekick to his younger companion, who is the real star of the show. 

“I got started with Meals on Wheels through Conner,” explains Doug. Conner, who is now 34, had been delivering meals for several years, one of several volunteer activities — or gigs, as Doug calls them — that are part of his routine. “He has an active social schedule,” says Doug, “and I go along with him on his volunteer gigs. That was my door into the senior center, and I’m so lucky to have had that door opened by Conner.”

Each Wednesday and Thursday, the two men deliver meals together to the Boardwalk Apartments, the senior living complex just a few blocks from the Olympia Senior Center. Conner gets so excited, he’s often smiling the whole time. He enjoys pushing their cart filled with meals, pressing the buttons on the elevator, and calling out the apartment numbers. 

“We have a special knock so they know it’s us,” says Doug, demonstrating with a repeated rap rap rap on the table. “We’re always excited to see the clients. When they open the door, their smiles say it all. They often don’t get out that much, so they depend on this human interaction.”

Though he doesn’t speak to clients during deliveries, Conner will often pat his chest to show how happy he is. “You can’t help but become friends with these folks,” says Doug. “You see them weekly. It’s like an extended family.” 

These days, Doug and Conner are delivering about 21 meals each day. During the pandemic, when the need for delivered meals skyrocketed, they were doing about 140 meals. In those first, dark days, Conner struggled with learning how to wear a mask, so he stayed home and Doug filled in by himself. “They would hand me letters to give to Conner,” he recounts, “sweet little notes saying we miss you.”

Conner needs 24-hour care, and Doug is typically with him 30 to 40 hours per week. It’s a second career for him, having gone back to school to become a caregiver after 25 years working in environmental science. “First I helped mother nature, now I’m helping people, directly,” he says with a laugh.

Doug also values the connections he’s made at the senior center. “The staff here are incredible,” he says. “I don’t know how they pull off the magic that they do. There’s not enough space, and they always need more resources, but the whole crew is fabulous.”

Besides the meals they bring to Boardwalk, Doug knows that he and Conner are in fact delivering much more. “It’s the human interaction and the love and the connection. The first thing you think of is the meals. You don’t think: we’re bringing love. And that you're getting love back. The human connection is something that is priceless, absolutely priceless.” For Conner, the facial reactions and smiles he gives make clear how important these human connections are to him.

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