Right now, nearly 46,000 older adults are in limbo, with their names on Meals on Wheels waitlists, while millions more struggle with food insecurity. Some seniors wait months, or even years, for the nourishing meals and daily check-ins they need to stay healthy and connected.

That’s why we’re inviting you to learn more about the challenges older adults face today so that you can share stories, like Mrs. Janie's, to bring seniors the attention and care they deeply need.

Meet Mrs. Janie

They make a feel like you're more than just a customer. You're a friend.

At 93, lifelong Texan Mrs. Janie Tope-Dawes had already weathered a stroke, vertigo and kidney disease. With her physical limitations, cooking safely on her own became out of the question, and neighbors’ leftovers could only do so much. 

Like so many seniors who have finally been taken off a waitlist and are next in line, everything changed when Meals on Wheels arrived at her door. 

With low-sodium, heart-healthy meals delivered each week and friendly visits from volunteers who bring stories, smiles and the security of knowing she’s not alone, Mrs. Janie has found the energy and confidence to thrive again.

READ HER HOPEFUL STORY

But why are there waitlists and what can we do?

For every Mrs. Janie the network reaches, another older neighbor is still stuck on hold. Waitlists stretch from Texas to the Carolinas, with rural communities hit hardest. And while local providers innovate every day, more than 80% say chronic funding shortfalls keep these lines from moving. Discover what’s driving the crisis in communities near you and how we can #EndTheWait together.

LEARN ABOUT WAITLISTS

Thank you for sharing the stories of seniors like Mrs. Janie. Together, we can deliver so much more than a meal.