Ken and Polly met in college, fell in love, and are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Today, they volunteer together through Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program, serving older adults in their Biddeford community while continuing a lifelong commitment to caring for others. 

Over the years, Ken and Polly often followed different professional paths. “So many of the things we’ve done over the years have been our own individual pursuits because we have different skill sets,” Ken says. “This was an opportunity, now that we have time, to do something good together.” 

Giving back was already familiar ground for both of them. Ken and Polly had long volunteered in programs supporting food insecurity, including free community suppers. Ken also volunteered with Community Concepts and later served as President of the Board, continuing a commitment to helping people who needed a hand. Polly grew up volunteering alongside her parents on a dairy farm, delivering food to those in need. Their marriage, shaped by shared values and mutual care, naturally extends into the way they serve others. 

Volunteering with Meals on Wheels through Southern Maine Agency on Aging, particularly at the Biddeford meal site, felt like the right place to put those values into action. It also deepened their connection to the community they love. 

“Going into so many homes makes you feel closer to your community, because you’re part of it,” Polly says. 

When they first started delivering Meals on Wheels, they shared most routes as substitute drivers. Over time, they found a rhythm that works well for them as a team. Polly handles navigating, recordkeeping, and initial calls, while Ken gathers the meals and gets everything ready. Before heading out, they also pack meals together at the Biddeford site, load the car, and begin their route.  

“The older adults we deliver to have a deep need for this service,” Ken says. “When you see someone every week, you get to know them. They look forward to seeing you.”  

Polly remembers one recipient greeting them with, “Oh, I missed you,” after a short break in deliveries. 

Many Meals on Wheels recipients live with serious health needs and limited social connection. For some, the weekly delivery provides not only food, but reassurance and continuity. 

This is where Ken’s presence makes a difference. 

“Everybody likes Ken,” Polly says. “He has a warm, gentle way about him that people really respond to.” 

Polly recalls a recipient who had experienced a major upheaval in her life and was living alone and feeling heartsick. Ken took time to listen because that was what she needed. Another gentleman, grieving the loss of two close family members while managing ongoing health issues, looks forward to those few minutes of conversation with Ken each week. 

“I think that’s a big part of what Meals on Wheels provides,” Polly says. “It’s connection. It’s knowing someone will show up.” 

Ken is quick to say that Polly brings that same care into every part of their volunteering. 

“She’s incredibly caring and considerate,” he says. “You can see it in the way she packs the meals.” 

Polly pays close attention to meal sheets and dietary needs, does her best to provide what is listed, and takes time to leave notes or explain substitutions when needed. 

“She makes sure people know they’re seen,” Ken adds. “That their needs matter.” 

They have also found something meaningful in the volunteer community itself. Tuesday morning packing at the Biddeford site is filled with camaraderie, laughter, and teamwork. Volunteers help one another load cars, keep up with each other’s lives, and form connections beyond deliveries. 

“There are a lot of fun things that happen as volunteers,” Polly says. “It’s quality time spent together, knowing you’re doing something that benefits older adults in your neighborhood. The other volunteers are so lovely and interesting, people you wouldn’t meet any other way. I’ve even had lunch with someone I met while packing.” 

“It really is a team effort. The drivers help each other load up the cars, and the volunteers really feel like a community,” Ken adds. 

For Ken and Polly, volunteering together through Southern Maine Agency on Aging is another chapter in a life shaped by partnership, care, and showing up for others. Their encouragement to anyone considering volunteering is heartfelt and practical: Southern Maine Agency on Aging is meaningful, flexible, and welcoming. 

“As little as an hour a week can make a big difference,” Polly says.