Champions Showed Up - and Are Speaking Out

This Community Champions Week, leaders across the country showed just how much they care about our nation’s seniors. From mayors and city council members to state senators and Members of Congress, dozens and dozens of elected officials rolled up their sleeves and rode along with local Meals on Wheels providers - delivering meals and messages of support in communities nationwide.

The week also marked the anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program - the backbone to senior nutrition services in America and the foundation of the Meals on Wheels network - with a renewed call to End the Wait™ for the 1 in 3 programs struggling with waitlists.

The momentum is growing, the voices are getting louder and communities are shining brighter for the seniors who need them most.

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BECOME A CHAMPION YOURSELF

SEE WHO GOT INVOLVED

"I Kind of Wait on My Meals on Wheels"

At 107, Ms. Maxine still tends to her orchids and loves Wheel of Fortune - but what she looks forward to most is her daily Meals on Wheels delivery. “They give me an incentive to get up in the morning and dress… I like putting on something different, so they see.”

But like so many across the country, Maxine is at risk of losing the lifeline she depends on. Providers in the network are facing impossible choices as funding fails to keep pace with rising costs and demand - some forced to suspend new referrals or serve fewer meals altogether.

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Spotlight on Women's History Month

Trailblazing women have pioneered community service efforts throughout history.?Even Meals on Wheels itself started as a grassroots movement with many strong and compassionate women at the forefront.

Now, we'd like you to meet Meals on Wheels recipient Lenore "Gundy" Costello, a leader who had a "golden touch" and would cause those around her to flourish. Today, Gundy is the nation’s oldest Girl Scout - a shining example of this enduring legacy.

READ GUNDY'S STORY

Nutrition Is Power - Especially as We Age

"There's no reason we can't have nutritional achievement as well as great satisfaction with the meals that are provided."

- Ucheoma Akobundu, Senior Director for Nutrition Strategy

March is National Nutrition Month, and we’re not just joining the conversation - we’re leading it. With more than 2 million seniors served each year, the Meals on Wheels network of local providers delivers far more than meals. They bring balanced nutrition and support right to the doors of older adults - many of whom face chronic conditions, mobility challenges and food insecurity.

This month, we spotlighted the vital connection between aging and nutrition: sharing easy, senior-friendly recipes, celebrating our community-driven innovations and elevating what it means to eat well later in life.

As we look ahead, we’re doubling down on what we know to be true: good nutrition is an essential part of health care, and every senior deserves access. Let’s keep pushing for policies, programs and partnerships that ensure every senior who needs Meals on Wheels gets it.

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