So Much More than a meal
When you donate to Meals on Wheels, you're providing hot, healthy meals to older adults and veterans who need them ... but that's not all.
You're helping to prevent social isolation and save lives, as well.
For many of the recipients of our nearly 2,000 meals a day, their Meals on Wheels driver is the only person they see that day, or even that week. Specially trained to check on clients' well-being, our drivers perform a much-needed service that can enhance emotional well-being. And in fact, these well-being checks save 3-8 lives of our clients annually.
Over 85% of our clients live 185% below the federal poverty level. Many cannot cook or prepare their own meals. Donors like you are supporting their access to both nutritional and social opportunities.
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More than 10,000 older adults in Polk County are food insecure.
41% of older adults in Iowa live below the ALICE threshold.
Meals on Wheels lowers hospitalization rates by 39%.
43% of older adults report feeling lonely.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the incidence and severity of social isolation experienced by older adults.
Nearly 1/3 of people age 65+ live alone.
The majority are women, many of whom spent decades caring for children and other family members.
Meals on Wheels participation boosts Medicare savings.
When a person starts Meals on Wheels service, their Medicare costs can be expected to decrease by as much as $1,100 within 90 days.
Meals on Wheels:
The Reality
The typical Meals on Wheels participant is a woman age 75 or older who is homebound, lives alone, and is not in optimal health. She may lack the financial resources to pay for basic needs, such as nutrition, and a lack of transportation and limited physical mobility also may hinder her access to food.
Prolonged social isolation — for many of our clients, the reality if Meals on Wheels were not an option — is linked to a greater incidence of anxiety and depression. It's also correlated with poor cardiovascular health and decreased cognitive function.
The social interaction and well-being checks provided by Meals on Wheels drivers can be life-changing. Every year since the program's inception, Meals on Wheels drivers have saved lives.
The new campus is located at 3206 University Ave. in Des Moines, Iowa. The building was gifted to WesleyLife Meals on Wheels via the generosity of a committed donor and Drake University. The building previously served as the university's College of Education.
The building's second story will be devoted to programming to build intergenerational connections for younger and older adults alike around such shared interests as the arts, health, and education.
The new kitchen will be 40% larger than the existing one, with brand-new equipment and a specially designed layout to improve efficiency and increase production from 1,000 to 3,000 meals per day.
A 3,000-square-foot indoor vertical hydroponic garden on the lower level of the campus will facilitate the growing of fresh produce to enhance the nutritional value of the meals we serve.
The campus's upper level will also house office and collaborative space for the Meals on Wheels team.
More than $1 million will be used to purchase new equipment, including roll-in ovens, blast chillers, freezer and refrigeration space, and a commercial dishwasher — the first ever for the Meals on Wheels program!
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