WATCH: Meet a 94-year-old still making the rounds

Ray Bartlett loves meeting people, staying active, and driving.

It's no wonder he is one of the top volunteers in West Kelowna for Meals on Wheels.

And despite being 94 years old, he has no intention of calling it quits.

“I’ve got to keep moving. I’ve always been active and I just can’t sit around and worry about myself,” Bartlett, who started in 1992, told Kelowna10.

Bartlett used to deliver meals with his wife, but she passed away 11 years ago. He’s carried on delivering by himself ever since.

He's driven to continue partially by the fact that there are a lot of people who can't or struggle to cook.

“In most cases they’re older people, although they’re all younger than I am," he said.

The daily interactions are a nice inspiration, too, he said.

“Meeting new people - I don’t meet too many of them. There’s some ladies who like to be hugged and that’s good. I need hugs, too, so it works out good."

Bartlett said it’s better for him to be out there, making deliveries, than sitting at home.

“I’m just carrying on… I’ll now do this as long as I can,” he said. “They need me and I need them is what it comes to.”

Meals on Wheels has delivered healthy and flavourful meals in the Kelowna area since 1969, helping seniors and homebound individuals get the proper nutrition they need.

Besides meal service, the program offers social interaction, which was especially important during the pandemic.

Manager Marion Bremner said the service provides peace of mind to families and friends, knowing their loved ones are receiving good food and being checked on.

“We feel that we are more than just delivering meals,” Bremner said.

Given the Okanagan's draw on retirees, the service has a large clientele. She said pretty much all of them have been confined to their homes during the pandemic.

“It gives them a chance to get good nutrition, and also to have a little bit of socializing with somebody in the community,” Bremner said.

Bremner appreciates the volunteers they have, and had special praise for Ray.

“[He] is our most amazing volunteer,” she said . "He’s a very healthy, feisty, gentleman, and he puts a lot of 70-year-olds to shame.”