"We sent out a letter to our senior volunteers last week and the response has been great," Tennille Valensisi, co-ordinator of Griffith Meals on Wheels said.

Late October the NSW government advised that there were no longer 'specific restrictions for people over 70 about self-isolating or staying at home', so Mrs Valensisi wasted no time in getting in contact with her volunteers.

"We are filling up our rosters really quick already," Mrs Valensisi said.

"Everyone is just really excited to volunteer again. They were all feeling a bit isolated and helpless I guess because they couldn't do what they have always been doing."

Seniors were excluded from volunteer work in March due to their vulnerability to COVID and the high-risk nature being out in the community posed. Prior to this however, 85% of Meals on Wheels volunteer base were in the over 70 age bracket, which almost spelled disaster for the service that has been running in Griffith for 56 years.

"We went from 320 registered volunteers prior to COVID to then having a roster of about 25 people during COVID," Mrs Valensisi said.

Many of the senior volunteers had been with Meals on Wheels for decades, Roy Catanzariti is one of them, having started volunteering with the charity around 12 years ago.

'I don't know what it is, but I've always seemed to get along with older people," Mr Catanzariti said, reflecting on why he wanted to get involved with Meals on Wheels.

However, due to Mr Catanzariti's heart issues over the years, he anticipated having to take a break from the service as the COVID situation worsened.

"I had already made the decision that I would give it a rest for a couple of months," Mr Catanzariti said.

"We are so grateful that our seniors are coming back," Mrs Valensisi said.

"We love to see them and the clients have missed seeing their regulars."

Mrs Valensisi expressed sincere gratitude for all the people that stepped up and helped Meals on Wheels out during the tremendous challenges of the past seven months.

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