Pledge to make a difference, together.

Meals On Wheels Association of America

1550 Crystal Drive,
Suite 1004
,
Arlington, VA 22202,
USA

Donate Start Fundraiser

$6,606 raised via 493 donations

Our Mission

Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.

OUR VISION An America in which all seniors live nourished lives with independence and dignity.

OUR MISSION To empower local community programs to improve the health and quality of life of the seniors they serve so that no one is left hungry or isolated.

Our Impact

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Meals On Wheels Association of America posted an impact story
5 months ago

Ella Stewart spent a lifetime telling stories. To hear her paint, in vivid detail, the rich tapestry of her lineage and life demonstrates the depth and complexity of Meals on Wheels clients’ lived experiences and reminds us there’s so much wisdom we can gain from seniors. As a storyteller, Ella keeps her mind sharp by reading, writing and boosting her cognitive health through a balanced diet. Its proven nutritious meals support the healthy brain functions of seniors like Ella. They can even delay brain aging, preserving the ability of seniors to recall their past experiences. We, in turn, receive the gift of stepping into seniors' living dreams and helping them reawaken the past, even when the past conjures complex emotions, as Southern history often does for the Black community: aching nostalgia, loss, fear, resilience and enduring love. To read more about Ella, please visit our blog: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/blog/view/meals-on-wheels-america-blog/2023/10/17/ella-stewart-and-the-elegy-of-her-kinfolk

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Meals On Wheels Association of America posted an impact story
5 months ago

In America, we proudly honor our military veterans and their service; it’s rooted in our tradition to commemorate battles won. Yet, we can forget that some battles don’t end in the trenches. Many veterans return home carrying visible and invisible scars. Some struggle to transition from soldier to civilian and can spend a lifetime seeking stability and purpose. While veterans are less likely to experience poverty, they are at a heightened risk for disability—often resulting from service-related injuries, mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness and social isolation. These risks can be amplified by food insecurity. The confluence of challenges that can come with aging only worsens the problem. Nearly one-half of all veterans in the United States are 65 years or older, and it’s more critical than ever for service organizations to step up to meet the complex needs of homebound senior veteran populations. The Meals on Wheels network annually serves nearly 350,000 grateful veterans by delivering regular nutritious meals. A meal is often more than a meal for seniors; it keeps them healthy and strong, gives them hope and communicates that they aren’t alone. To read Michael's story, please visit our blog: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/blog/view/meals-on-wheels-america-blog/2023/11/09/finding-a-slice-of-heaven

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Meals On Wheels Association of America posted an impact story
about 2 months ago

Vernon Shelton is a native son of Dunn, North Carolina, the largest city in Harnett County, 40 minutes due south of Raleigh, North Carolina. He was welcomed into the world in New York before his family relocated to “The Tar Heel State,” and he’ll be the first to tell you he’s not Carolina-born; he’s Carolina-bred, with all the trimmings of southern charm and an intrinsic desire to serve others. It’s clear from spending only a few minutes with Vernon he has a generous spirit, matched only by his long record of service (one he’s reluctant to boast about), his fierce advocacy of the Meals on Wheels mission and his sharp wit. For 45 years – the better part of Vernon’s lifetime – he’s volunteered with Meals on Wheels of Wake County as a delivery person. In that time, he married (now 40 years and counting) and raised a son who’s an award-winning North Carolina news anchor. What began as a desire to give back to the community is now an integral commitment to the tempo of his life and food for his soul. To read more about Vernon's story, please visit our blog: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/blog/view/meals-on-wheels-america-blog/2024/01/29/a-thank-you-is-good-enough

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Meals On Wheels Association of America posted an impact story
21 days ago

Trailblazing women throughout American history have been at the forefront of sparking, building and evolving social movements—movements oriented toward sweeping social change, with others hyper-focused on pervasive injustices, like hunger and nutrition, or responsive to disparate humanitarian causes. The impact, effectiveness and reach of organizations like Meals on Wheels and the American Red Cross—both of which were born from grassroots efforts—are the direct result of the contributions made by women. Individuals like 107-year-old Meals on Wheels recipient Lenore Costello are an extension of this proud legacy. Her numerous accomplishments as an early architect of the Girl Scouts Heart of Florida Council are impressive by any measure, let alone for a woman navigating the American workforce in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, at the peak of the Women’s Rights Movement. Lenore’s strength and determination demonstrate that women of her time could find success, lead, thrive and lay a foundation for other aspiring young leaders to assume their mantle. Through sharing their stories, we honor their achievements and celebrate their commitment to being changemakers. To read the full story, please visit our blog: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/blog/view/meals-on-wheels-america-blog/2024/03/08/gundy

Causes We Support

Countries We Serve

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

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