Denver volunteer still delivering Meals On Wheels at 100
Feb 4, 2026, 3:44 PM | Updated: Feb 5, 2026, 3:12 pm
The world may seem full of bad news these days, but if you need a reminder that good still exists, meet Mel Faes, a 100-year-old World War II veteran from Denver, who continues to volunteer with Meals on Wheels more than 40 years after he first started working with the program, delivering meals to homebound seniors.
Born in 1925 and raised in north Denver, Faes served in the Army Air Force during World War II and later worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 34 years before dedicating his Mondays to community service.
He’s now joined on his delivery route by his sons, John and Jim Faes, who started helping their dad about five years ago when he stopped driving, while Mel still delivers meals to the door whenever possible.
He was recently recognized with an Everyday Hero award for his decades of service and continued commitment to seniors in his community. He was nominated by Volunteers of America Colorado, which produces and delivers nearly 3,000 meals daily across seven counties.
