I’m one volunteer of however many, but I’m glad that I can be part of a community of people who are filling that gap.

“I love New York,” says Letisha. “I’ve lived here my whole life.” Letisha was born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, where she still lives today. And whenever she has a free Saturday, you can find her out and about on the streets of Manhattan, delivering meals to her older neighbors. “This is just another thing I can do to support my city.”

Letisha began volunteering with Citymeals on Thanksgiving, but now, she makes deliveries no matter the season. “I’m not doing this for recognition,” she says. “I’m one volunteer of however many, but I’m glad that I can be part of a community of people who are filling that gap.”

Along all those delivery routes, there’s one recipient who stands out to Letisha. It was at an apartment building on the Upper East Side that didn’t have an elevator. The meal recipient lived on the fourth floor.

“When I finished walking up the stairs, I was out of breath,” she says. “And when the meal recipient opened the door, I noticed he was out of breath just getting to the door from the couch.” As she headed back down the stairs, Letisha couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take the older man to do the same. Could he do the same? She couldn’t imagine him making the climb up all four flights while carrying groceries. “It got me thinking about how many people are struggling just to do regular, everyday things,” she says. “It’s heartbreaking, but it’s encouraging that there are services like Citymeals on Wheels.”

While it can be hard to fit volunteering into her schedule, Letisha knows it’s about prioritizing what’s important. “If it’s something that you really want to do, you’ll do it,” she says. Which is why she appreciates that on Saturdays she can volunteer at the Carter Burden Luncheon Club.

“Just knowing that I’m filling a need for someone who is in need makes it all worth it,” says Letisha. She encourages anyone who’s interested to try it — at least once. Especially within their own neighborhoods. “It’s a way to connect with the people around us,” she says. “That’s one of the things I love about New York.”