When John Allin began planning for his retirement from the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2003, he knew that volunteering would play a big part in the years ahead. After a conversation with a neighbour, he explored opportunities with Community Care’s Meals on Wheels program and began delivering meals in 2005.
For several years, John worked his routes solo—organizing and delivering meals to older adults living alone, people recovering from hospital stays, and others who needed support with meal preparation. When Maggie came into his life a few years later, he gained not only a life partner but also a new teammate. In January 2010, just one month before their wedding, Maggie joined him on the road as a Meals on Wheels volunteer.
Since then, the couple has delivered thousands of meals together, forming a reliable team both in marriage and in service. Along the way, they’ve shared quick chats and warm greetings with clients, learned snippets of life stories, and met more than a few friendly pets at the door. Maggie remembers the pandemic as a particularly meaningful time—when safety protocols limited contact but the need for connection was as strong as ever.
For John and Maggie, volunteering is as much about the shared purpose as it is about the meals. “It’s rewarding to provide such an important service,” they agree, crediting Community Care as a caring organization that communicates well and values its volunteers. They plan to continue delivering together for years to come—a team in every sense of the word.
