Donate for homebound older, disabled neighbor

Why Donate?

“Well I don’t have to be concerned now about how I can’t divide one meal into two or three meals a day. I know my meals will have vegetables in them. I couldn’t always have fresh vegetables before. Now I know my meals will be nutritious. With my health issues, it makes a big difference. Thank you. I am truly grateful.”

During this time of high food costs, end hunger and isolation among elderly and disabled neighbors by donating the gift of Meals on Wheels to Evelyn and seniors like her today.

$10 provides a day of service–two nutritious meals and a safety check–as well as social connection programming (all funded by generous donors) like pet care, birthday gifts, holiday wish list fulfillment, and hospital visits.

$50 provides complete services for a week for a homebound older, disabled neighbor.

Estimated at $58,200 for a single year, the cost of assisted living in Virginia is beyond the reach of many seniors. At $2,600 a year, Meals on Wheels is a fraction of that cost. With most seniors choosing to age in place in their homes, your donation to Meals on Wheels is a direct investment in quality of life and independence for our growing senior population. Your donation is also an investment in equity, relieving hunger and isolation for all who qualify. You can read more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion here.

Need more reasons to donate? According to the results of our most recent Annual Participant Survey:

Nearly forty percent would see no one else for a week or more if it weren’t for our volunteers.
86% have noticed increased social well-being since enrollment.
97% of participants look forward to seeing their volunteer each day.
97% eat healthier since enrollment.
98% report that Meals on Wheels makes it easier for them to live at home.
86% are from zip codes with moderate to high food-insecurity in Chesapeake: 23324, with a score of 92.7; 23325, with a score of 67.8; 23320, with a score of 47.9; 23323, with a score of 44.3; and 23321, with a score of 37.9. Source: GHR Connects

The Need: Elizabeth’s Story

Elizabeth is a new enrollee who lives alone, like nearly a quarter of older adults in Chesapeake. With her mobility issues, cooking is difficult. When she first called us, she shared that she has a hard time getting to the store, since she lives in a food desert and can no longer drive. And lately it’s been hard for her to afford groceries. She shops flyer sales and manager specials to get by. But these days the specials are sold out or just not cheap enough. “I have to scrabble for deals and have to settle for discounted meats and dairy, which isn’t always the healthiest of options.” Like the rest of us, Elizabeth has experienced rapid and sustained inflation resulting in higher prices at checkout. And like 11% of her senior neighbors in Chesapeake and 30% of MOWC participants, Elizabeth survives on a fixed income of less than $1,215/month.

On her first day receiving meals, Elizabeth called us in tears. She was relieved to have a hot, wholesome lunch of meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed cabbage, and a roll to sit down to, with a second meal to put in her fridge for dinner. She said, “Today I didn’t look in my pantry to see what was in there that would make a meal.”

We checked in with Elizabeth recently, and are pleased to report that she is doing well: “The delivery volunteers are bright, courteous, and cheerful. They always brighten my day. Being a diabetic, my meals are always catered to me and provide the nutrition I need, on top of being delicious. My blood pressure and sugar are down, thanks to the healthy meals.”

Ways to Donate

Become a Monthly Sustainer

Donate nutritious meals each month for seniors like Elizabeth. Your monthly donation regularly provides nutrition, safety, and connection for older and disabled adults. It's an easy way to keep the meals coming through times of uncertainty and high food costs. Your monthly donation is reliable support that allows us to put our focus on serving Elizabeth and neighbors like her.

Donate

Support PAWS

Isolation compounds age-related trauma and is as deadly as obesity and smoking. So as part of our service model, we also provide social connection programming. This includes Pets Assisting the Wellbeing of Seniors (PAWS), which requires donations to provide monthly deliveries of pet food and supplies, as well as mobile veterinary care through Golden Paws House Calls. 65% of our pet families live in low-income households, and pets typically have not seen a veterinarian for two years or more before enrollment.

Donate

Sponsor Meals

Every month, we have participants that can’t afford to pay for their meals due to emergencies, hospitalization, or financial hardship. Your meal sponsorship donation is applied directly to their accounts, taking one less thing off their plate while keeping their plates and bellies full.

Donate

Support Social Programs

Many participants do not have anyone to celebrate their birthdays with, so we send birthday gifts to all participants as part of our social connection programming. We also visit hospitalized participants, who receive a handmade lap quilt and Feel Better bags with word puzzles and toiletries.

Donate

Our Wish List

Choose donations from our Amazon Wish List here for social programming needs, including birthday gifts, hospital visits, and pet food/supplies.

WISH LIST

Or designate a monetary donation to social connection programming here.

Donate

Our Gift Acceptance Policy

Success Stories

Each volunteer that I have met brings a smile and joy along with the food.

The folks who deliver my meals are all fantastic. Really fine lovely people. One stands out extra: my Thursday person. She brings my trash can to the door if the truck has picked up my trash.