MEALS AT HOME dba Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois

Results: More than 130,000 meals were delivered in the last fiscal year, an increase from 64,000 the year prior. The increase is attributed to the quality of the meals being produced in MWNEI's food production facility that opened in 2020. This rapid growth is unlikely to slow for quite some time based on the current need and the aging population. An expansion project is currently underway.

Target demographics: homebound, elderly, disabled and others access nutritious meals and medically prescribed diets

Direct beneficiaries per year: over 600 individuals

Geographic areas served: Communities north and west of Chicago

Programs: When Mrs. Jones’ memory began to slow, her daughter looked to Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois (MWNEI) to allow her mom to stay in her home for as long and as safely possible. In Mrs. Jones’ case alone, MWNEI was able to help boost her overall health with better nutrition, introduce vital social interaction through daily meal delivery visits, give her family peace of mind, require fewer trips to the doctor, lower medical costs…all through the power of appropriate food. MWNEI’s powerhouse movement of volunteers delivers nutrition to the 1 in 6 older adults who struggle to access food due to physical (arthritic hands, difficulty standing, vision issues, surgery, etc.) or other limitations (dementia, loss of a spouse, medically prescribed diet, depression, etc.) Every day, Monday through Saturday, MWNEI volunteers show up in force to help the Mrs. Joneses of Northeastern Illinois. Volunteers are in neighborhoods daily delivering meals and reassuring older adults who, without their delivery volunteers, are often alone. Behind the scenes, a huge team of volunteers also assist MWNEI’s chefs in food production and packaging of meals, packing delivery bags, distributing delivery bags, and assisting with projects in the office.