VENICE - Despite the growing costs of food and fuel, some volunteers in Venice are making sure those who can't get a hot meal for themselves still get one.  The Venice area Meals on Wheels will do whatever it takes to make deliveries. They delivered nearly 44,000 meals last year alone.

Hot meals are cooked by the staff at Village on the Isle, an assisted living facility.  "They offer us the office space and prepare our meals for us," says President of the Venice Area Mobile Meals. Sherry Eubanks.

Every morning dozens of volunteers check their route and load up.  A community effort aimed at making sure nobody in the area goes without a meal because of a physical or mental disability.  "We have a little over 200 volunteers and put out approximately 150 meals a day six days a week," says Eubanks.

Thursday, we rode with Jo McMahon, who has been putting her wheels in motion with the organization for 27 years.  "I just enjoy being with people and I enjoy helping out some too."

The need has grown.  The non profit with no government funding added another 1,400 meals over the past year.  Those like Pat Searle.  "Ever since I had my heart attack two years ago." And it's more than just food.  "Not only do you get to the meal but you get someone to talk to. Yes, it's a friendly face."

Village on the Isle says they've been able to keep the meal prices at $2.75 a day despite a 15% increase in food prices.  Drivers here say they're not going to let gas prices get in the way either.  "When the gas prices started going up I had this one man try to give me money for gas.  I appreciate it but I wouldn't take it," says McMahon.

Volunteers we talked to say it's only a few dollars more a day in gas.  They said they would do without before stopping their deliveries.  "Most of the volunteers we have were in business for many years and they want to give back," says Eubanks.

Meals on Wheels biggest task is making sure it has enough drivers, especially during the summer months.  For more information call 488-1889.