What We Deliver

Solutions That Start With a Meal But Deliver More

The Lunch Box serves as a Stoddard County, Missouri, local Meals on Wheels program, assisting our senior neighbors with an activity center and dining area. Meals on Wheels has been guided by a single goal since the first known U.S. delivery by a small group of Philadelphia citizens in 1954 – to support our senior neighbors to extend their independence and health as they age. What started as a compassionate idea has become one of America's most significant and influential social movements, currently helping nearly 2.8 million seniors annually in virtually every community in the country.

The Meals on Wheels program serves more than 247 million meals annually, feeding 2.8 million seniors annually.

Services Provided:

• Train drivers to keep an eye out for senior well-being
• Provide socialization opportunities
• Connect seniors to services in the community when needs are identified
• Train drivers to keep an eye out for safety issues around the clients' home

The Impact:

We can serve a senior for an entire year for roughly the exact cost of a day in the hospital or 10 in a nursing home. Of home-delivered meal participants:

• 77% say the meals help improve their health
• 85% say the services help them feel more secure
• 92% say the meals help them live independently

What The Lunch Box Helps Deliver

Too many seniors find accessing healthy food or cooking nutritious meals challenging. About 10 million older adults in America face hunger every day. Not only that, but the risk of malnutrition is increased due to various factors that come up as we age, such as decreased appetite, limited mobility, and dietary restrictions. That's where The Lunch Box and Meals on Wheels come in. This remarkable network delivers a staggering 247 million meals yearly to 2.8 million seniors. 

But what does the Meals on Wheels program deliver? It starts with the meal and enables us to provide resources our aging neighbors need. 

Tailored Nutrition

Serving good, healthy meals designed to meet the specific needs and preferences of the community and ensure clients have the nutrition they need.

Social Connection

Building and maintaining social connections to help senior clients feel less alone, including phone calls and friendly visits.

Safety

Assessing the home environment to ensure safety, identifying and addressing hazards, directly or through referral.

Resources and Referrals

Sharing valuable information, connecting clients to additional services, and responding to the emerging needs in the community.

A Proven, Effective, and Trusted Solution

Improves Health

• 90% say they feel better as a result of receiving home-delivered meals

Enables Independence 

• 92% say home-delivered meals help them continue to live independently

Provides Peace of Mind

• 87% say knowing that they will receive regular visits made them feel safer at home

Fosters Dignity and Respect

• 95% would recommend their Meals on Wheels service to a friend

Learn More About Meals on Wheels

Facts and Research

At Meals on Wheels America, we engage in research to demonstrate the impact and value of Meals on Wheels programs that address hunger and isolation among millions of seniors each year. This work supports our commitment to ensuring local programs have the tools and resources to meet the growing demand for services in their communities.



Eligibility is not an income-based.

About Meals on Wheels America

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. 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.