As WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, one of central Iowa's largest home-delivered meal programs, celebrates 20 years of serving older adults throughout the region, WesleyLife is marking the milestone with a sweeping transformation of its culinary program — bringing together locally sourced ingredients, chef-led, scratch-made meals, acclaimed culinary leadership, and strategic partnerships that will elevate culinary experiences across the organization.
The transformation includes a new partnership with Guthrie County Quality Meats; a transition to Unidine, a national dining management company specializing in chef-led hospitality, as the culinary partner for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels; and the addition of acclaimed culinary leaders James Richards and Chris Hollinger to lead the Meals on Wheels culinary program.
Together, these changes reflect WesleyLife's culinary pledge: a commitment to fresh ingredients, responsible sourcing, scratch cooking, and exceptional quality for every person served.
"For our organization, food is far more than nutrition," Krista Adams, director of culinary excellence for WesleyLife, says. "It's comfort, connection, and celebration. It's an essential part of health and well-being.
“Every decision we've made has been driven by a simple belief: Older adults deserve meals prepared with the same care, integrity, and quality anyone would expect around their own family table."
Investing in Iowa's Farmers and Food System
WesleyLife has partnered with Guthrie County Quality Meats, a locally owned processor in Guthrie Center, Iowa, to supply all beef and pork and most of the chicken served in its 10 communities for healthy living across Iowa. Chicken not sourced through Guthrie County Quality Meats will continue to come from regional producers in northern Iowa and Minnesota.
"The aging-services sector doesn't always prioritize food sourcing at this level, but we believe it should," she says. "Where our food comes from matters. This partnership connects Iowa farmers, a trusted local processor, and the people we serve in a way that reflects our values. We're serving more humanely raised livestock, minimally processed proteins, and food we know the story behind.
"This is a true partnership; Guthrie County Quality Meats isn't simply selling us products. They're investing alongside us in the health and well-being of older adults throughout our communities and across central Iowa."
The collaboration also will include retail meat markets at select WesleyLife communities, beginning with Edgewater in West Des Moines. Residents, family members, guests, and team members will have the opportunity to purchase the same locally sourced meats featured throughout WesleyLife's culinary program.
Acclaimed Culinary Leaders Join WesleyLife Meals on Wheels
James Richards, at right in the photo, is serving as executive chef for the Meals on Wheels program. Richards most recently served as executive chef and director at Proudfoot & Bird and Hotel Fort Des Moines and has been featured on The Food Network. Known for his creativity, leadership, and passion for exceptional food, Richards brings extensive experience in fine dining while embracing a mission-driven opportunity to serve older adults through Meals on Wheels.
Chris Hollinger, at left in the photo, joins as culinary director after serving as executive sous chef at Proudfoot & Bird. Hollinger brings years of experience developing quality menus, mentoring culinary teams, and creating exceptional dining experiences.
Together, Richards and Hollinger will focus exclusively on the Meals on Wheels program, helping shape menus that emphasize fresh ingredients, local sourcing, and culinary excellence.
"I've spent my career believing that every person deserves an exceptional meal, regardless of where they're dining," Richards says. "What drew me to WesleyLife Meals on Wheels is the opportunity to use great food to make a meaningful difference in people's lives every single day. Every meal is an opportunity to bring comfort, dignity, and connection to someone who may need it most."
A Culinary Partner Aligned with WesleyLife's Vision
For the past 20 years, WesleyLife Meals on Wheels has helped older adults remain independent by delivering nutritious meals, meaningful connection, and regular well-being checks throughout the greater Des Moines area. Powered by dedicated team members, volunteers, donors, and community partners, the program has become a vital resource for thousands of older adults each year.
As the program enters its next chapter, WesleyLife’s new partnership with Unidine will help bring the organization’s culinary pledge to life. Unidine is operating the Meals on Wheels commercial kitchen and producing all meals for the Meals on Wheels program.
The decision to align with Unidine followed an extensive evaluation of culinary partners and came down to shared values, Adams says. WesleyLife sought a partner that viewed food not simply as a service, but as an essential part of health, well-being, and the overall experience of aging.
Unidine's chef-led approach, commitment to scratch cooking, fresh ingredients, culinary innovation, and local sourcing closely align with WesleyLife's culinary pledge and long-term vision for culinary excellence.
The partnership represents a complete evolution of the Meals on Wheels culinary program, replacing premade foods with meals prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients and locally sourced proteins. The result is a dining experience designed to maximize flavor, nutrition, variety, and quality while honoring the dignity of every person receiving a meal.
"Our culinary pledge wasn't written to be aspirational; it was written to guide every decision we make," Adams says. "Unidine shares that philosophy. Together, we're creating a culinary program centered on fresh ingredients, exceptional preparation, and continuous innovation because the people we serve deserve nothing less."
Looking Ahead
The announcement comes as WesleyLife Meals on Wheels celebrates its 20th anniversary with a community gathering this week honoring two decades of nourishing older adults throughout central Iowa.
"We're honoring everything Meals on Wheels has meant to our community over the past 20 years while making significant investments that will shape the next 20," she says. "Whether someone is dining in one of our communities or receiving a meal at home, they deserve food that reflects quality, dignity, compassion, and joy."
Together, the new partnerships, enhanced local sourcing, acclaimed culinary leadership, and renewed commitment to scratch-made meals represent one of WesleyLife's most significant investments in culinary excellence to date, reinforcing the organization's belief that exceptional food is fundamental to healthy aging and overall well-being.