About - Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake

Who We Are

Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake promotes nourishment and connection through evidence-based practices, employing the More Than a Meal™ service model. We affirm the dignity and agency of older and disabled adults. Our goal is to support their choice to age in place safely in their homes with improved health, well-being, and economic stability.

MOWC is a diverse, caring community of participants, volunteers, donors, community partners, a United Way of South Hampton Roads certified agency, and a Meals on Wheels America association member. Contractual meal partner Chesapeake Regional Healthcare (CRH) generously donates office space & technology since 1977, and we are a fee-for-services vendor for Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia (SSSEVA) since 2021.

Our Mission

Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake delivers nourishment, connection, and safety checks to facilitate wellbeing and independence for homebound older and disabled adults aging in place in Chesapeake who live alone, experience social isolation, and cannot cook or prepare nourishing meals for themselves.

Our Vision

Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake envisions a future where older and disabled aging-in-place adults are thriving. In this future, everyone — in our community and across the nation — espouses the inherent worth and dignity of aging and disabled adults, values their health and wellbeing, and understands that the work we do matters. We imagine a future where all homebound older and disabled neighbors who cannot cook or prepare their own meals — regardless of zip code or income level — have access to nourishing food, in-home safety, social connection, and connection to community resources that foster safe independent living.

Our Values

Sustainability

We make decisions that are future-focused and strengthen our resources and our community for generations to come.

Nourishment

We are at our best when our bodies are well-nourished.

Connection

We are at our best when we experience meaningful connection.

Safety

We are at our best when we feel safe in our homes, and cared for.

Equity

We believe everyone has the right to nourishment, connection, safety, and independent living — regardless of zip code or income level.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake (MOWC) a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community and workplace means that all stakeholders, participants, volunteers, and employees, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for program enrollment, volunteerism, employment, and advancement in all of our departments and programs. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.

Read our statement in its entirety HERE.

Our Focus

Since 2020, leadership has focused on increasing diversity among stakeholders through the crafting of compassionate policies and procedures at Meals on Wheels, as well as the cultivation of key community and contractual partnerships.

We:

Increased fundraising efforts to fund a record number of free and reduced-charge meals for a record number of participants who could not afford to pay
Updated the sliding scale three times since 2021, resulting in a 1,508% increase in low-income and limited-income participants receiving meals at reduced charge or for free
Completed DEI training through the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities in 2021
Invested in software that allows us to quickly build queries, generate custom data reports, and disaggregate data to ensure we are meeting diversity, equity, and inclusion targets
Recruited more people of color and women to our board of directors, resulting in a more diverse board
Recruited a more diverse volunteer base through inclusive social media and marketing strategies

Our Team

Megan Mann

Executive Director

Chiamaka Akujuobi

Operations Director

Wendy O’Connor

Program Coordinator

Phyllis Roldan

Volunteer Coordinator

Bruce Brown

Meal Production Assistant

Board of Directors

Tom Speight

Board Chair
President, Sterling Financial Group
Chesapeake, VA

Phyllis Stoneburner

Vice Chair
Executive Director, Healthy Chesapeake
Chesapeake, VA

Sheryl Harts

Secretary
Retired, Department of Defense Workforce Development
Chesapeake, VA

Jim Dyche

Treasurer
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Barton Enterprises of Virginia
Chesapeake, VA

Roger Chesley

Journalist, Virginia Mercury
Chesapeake, VA

Robert Culpepper

Chief Administrative Officer, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare
Chesapeake, VA

Julie Ulrich

Founder, Organized Legacy
Chesapeake, VA

Dr. Nancy Welch

Director of Public Health, Chesapeake Health Department
Chesapeake, VA