About 50 people are on Wakatipu Meals-on-Wheels co-ordinator Iona Dawson's books, but, she said, there was always room for more.
"Some people leave and more arrive," Mrs Dawson said.
Meals on Wheels provides elderly people in Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown with one square meal, five days a week.
That assurance can help keep them in their own homes, Mrs Dawson said.
As well as the meals, the people who receive them also like the companionship of a "friendly face popping in every day to say hello".
Volunteer Helen McDonald has got to know many of the recipients over the seven years she has been delivering meals.
"It is doing something in the community," Mrs McDonald said.
Sadie Miller (98) said the service saved her a lot of effort.
"When you get to my age you would drop everything . . . there would be pots on the [kitchen] floor," she said.
"It is a wonderful service to have."
Mrs Dawson said although some people were put off by rising petrol costs and some of the distances involved, most were usually called on "about once a month".
"They will probably only do it seven or eight times a year," she said.
As well as individuals, organisations and businesses often sign up for a few weeks each year, she said.
"We always have people from the skifields over winter, the service groups such as Rotary and Altrusa also help out a lot."
For more information about volunteering for the Meals on Wheels service call Iona Dawson on 442-9128.
