Volunteer Spotlight: Andrei Strukov

Andrei Strukov has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer driver for two years and says he loves the social aspect of his role. The reason behind why he became a volunteer driver is interesting to say the least. Up until three years ago, he was confined to a wheelchair which he said was a struggle and very limiting. “I was hopeless; I was helpless,” he said. “You lose all social connections; you lose the meaning of life.” Before his debilitating condition, Andrei said he was a “citizen of the world,” traveling often across the globe. “When I was in a wheelchair, my world shrunk,” he said.

Eventually he met a young surgeon, who he said looked like he had just graduated high school, who offered him hope with an operation. The next day after his surgery, Andrei began taking his first steps again. After regaining full walking capabilities and regaining his life, he said he needed to celebrate and decided volunteering would be the way to go. When researching Spectrum Generations, he found that some of the people he would be delivering food to were immobilized, something he could relate to. Andrei says he has become friends with all the people he delivers food to.