Running a nonprofit is always a grind, but for Meals on Wheels Jersey, the math is starting to look pretty grim. The organization currently feeds about 100 people four days a week, but their biggest asset—their 200+ volunteers—is getting harder to maintain because of the rising cost of petrol.
Secretary Maureen Bougeard says the recruiting process has hit a wall. When potential volunteers realize they have to front the fuel costs themselves, they ghost the application process.
“Very often volunteers say, you know, 'the petrol's getting expensive',” Bougeard said. “I send the information out which says 'you drive your car at your own expense' and I don't hear from them again.”
The situation is highkey tricky since the entire operation runs on zero paid staff. Most of these heroes are retired, and while some are doing just fine, others are on basic pensions. Despite the financial pressure, they’re still showing up to drive across the island twice a day, which is absolute main character energy.
The financial breakdown
The service receives a £38,000 grant from the Jersey Community Foundation to help cover costs through 2027. This money goes toward facilitating the meals, which recipients buy at a cost price of £5. However, with fuel inflation eating into the volunteers' own wallets, the organization is looking to renegotiate its agreement with the government to keep the wheels turning.
Why it matters
When the cost of living hits, it’s not just your personal budget that takes a hit—essential community services feel the pinch too. If volunteers can't afford the gas to drive, vulnerable people lose access to hot meals. It’s a classic L for the community, and the org is now racing to find a fix before the labor pool dries up completely.
