North Texas is bracing for icy conditions, and volunteers with Meals on Wheels Tarrant County are moving quickly to make sure homebound clients are prepared.

With snow, ice and plunging temperatures in the forecast, volunteers are loading up extra meals and taking extra time during what could be the final delivery before the storm moves in.

For many clients, the knock at the door brings more than food. It brings comfort and connection. Volunteer Luanna Bailey said the daily delivery includes two hot meals.

“Today is beef pot roast with gravy, rosemary, red potatoes and mixed vegetables,” Bailey said. “We also have white bean chicken chili, rosemary, red potatoes, and then the vegetables as well.”

Along with the hot plates, clients are receiving multiple shelf-stable meals they can prepare themselves if roads become unsafe and regular service is paused.

The uncertainty makes this visit especially critical as it is unclear whether cooks or volunteers will be able to resume normal operations early next week.

“We’re always closed on the weekends. So, the actual weather won’t affect us on Saturdays and Sunday. We’re more concerned for Monday and potentially Tuesday,” Philip Gonzalez, with Meals on Wheels Tarrant County said.

The visits also serve as wellness checks, something clients said makes a meaningful difference. Barbara, a Meals on Wheels client who did not provide her last name, described the experience simply. “You’re going to get meals, but you’re also going to get a friend,” Barbara said.

According to Gonzalez, volunteers also watch closely for safety needs during the extreme cold. “Our clients rely on us heavily,” Gonzalez said. “Make sure that their heaters are working and they have blankets and whatever else they may need, especially those who have pets.”

For Barbara, the time spent talking matters as much as the food itself.

“I feel a lot safer having them come here, and I also feel that I have friends because they stay and talk to me,” Barbara said.

As the storm approaches, Meals on Wheels Tarrant County encourages neighbors to check on older adults and those who live alone.

“While we can’t do the wellness check, we ask that you be a good neighbor whenever we can be there,” Gonzalez said. “Anytime we have any extreme weather, we are very concerned and wanna make sure that our clients are taken care of.”

Volunteers hope that a call, a visit or a simple check-in will help carry clients through until it is safe to return.