INDIANAPOLIS -- Snow piling up across central Indiana is slowing daily food deliveries to thousands of elderly and disabled Hoosiers.

Meals On Wheels volunteers are navigating unplowed side streets and slick sidewalks as they make crucial deliveries along 40 routes every day, 6News' Jennifer Carmack reported.

"I've got one client that I am hoping I can get back there and get his food to him," said volunteer Toni Savone. "I'll call him when I am on my way and I may have to hoof it in."

Besides the daily deliveries of one hot meal and one cold meal a day, volunteers are also dropping off emergency food kits with items like canned tuna and meal-replacement shakes in case the weather gets worse.

"If we don't get the meals to them, sometimes they just won't eat," said Meals On Wheels spokeswoman Barbara Renshaw.

More than the food, organizers said it's also crucial that volunteers visit every day to check on clients, especially in such extreme cold.

"You see how their day is going. I always ask them if everything's OK," Savone said. "You get a feel for if there's anything you need to report."

People like Stephen said they look forward to their Meals On Wheels visit for the food and the friendship.

"All the people that deliver to me, they're really nice people, and sometimes they stay and talk," he said. "It means a whole lot."

Clients are charged $5.50 for two meals a day. The emergency food kits are being handed out for free thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Community Economic Relief Fund.