Faith, Service, and the Heart Behind St. Vincent Meals on Wheels: A conversation with Sister Joyce Weller, D.C., and Veronica Dover.

For nearly 50 years, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels has been guided by the compassionate service of the Daughters of Charity and grounded in the simple mission of feeding the hungry and comforting the lonely. In this conversation, Executive Director Veronica Dover and Board Chair Sister Joyce Weller, D.C. reflect on the faith, heart, and community that sustain the work each day.

Q: VERONICA Sister Joyce, you’ve been part of the Daughters of Charity’s mission of service for decades. What first called you to this life, and how do you see that spirit living on here at Meals on Wheels?

A: SISTER JOYCE For me, the call was simple: a desire to do good in the world. I grew up admiring the Sisters — they were joyful, grounded, and very real. There was no bolt of lightning; it was more like a quiet, steady nudge toward goodness and service.

I still see that same nudge in the people who come here — volunteers, donors, staff. Something inside them wants to make someone’s life gentler, and
that is very much in the spirit of St. Vincent.

Q: SISTER JOYCE You’ve led this program through some very challenging years — the pandemic, rising costs, and now budget cuts. What keeps you going when the need feels overwhelming?

A: VERONICA The big picture can feel heavy, but everything becomes manageable when you focus on one person at a time. I think about Mr. Cooper,
a longtime client whose health was failing. When we asked what would bring him comfort, he told us how much he loved our chicken tenders — so that’s what we gave him. Every meal, every day.

That’s what our work is: listening, caring, showing up. And honestly, what keeps me going is our staff and volunteers. They build deep, almost sacred relationships with our seniors. Their compassion keeps the mission alive.

Q: VERONICA St. Vincent and St. Louise shaped their lives around caring for those who were poor, sick, or forgotten. How do their teachings guide us today?

A: SISTER JOYCE Vincent came to understand that the most important people in the world were often the ones who had nothing. And Louise reminded him — and reminds us still — that service is never just about the task. She used to say the soup wasn’t the gift; the person who brings the soup is the gift. That’s how we try to serve here. Yes, we deliver meals. But more than that, we offer dignity, presence, and human connection. Feed the hungry, comfort the lonely — simple acts that change lives.

Q: SISTER JOYCE Meals on Wheels is almost entirely privately funded. Why do you think people stay involved for so many years?

A: VERONICA Because they feel something here. Even people who don’t share our same faith feel the kindness, the grounding, the purpose. And they see the impact — one senior at a time.