MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA

THE MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA STRATEGY AND IMPACT TEAM PROVIDES THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, RESEARCH AND DATA, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND TOOLS, AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO AID COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS OUR MEMBERS IN EXTENDING THEIR REACH AND IMPACT. THE TEAM LEVERAGES BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAMMING TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS TO SERVE MORE SENIORS AND TO SERVE THEM IN INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE WAYS. THE WORK ALSO INCLUDES EFFORTS TO BRING TOGETHER OUR NATIONWIDE NETWORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND PAYERS THAT IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF CARE, WHILE LOWERING COSTS OF HEALTHCARE'S HIGH-RISK, SPECIAL NEEDS POPULATION. THE TRUST MEALS ON WHEELS HAS BUILT OVER DECADES OF SUPPORTING SENIORS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES MEANS OUR PROVIDERS ARE INVITED INTO THE HOMES OF THEIR CLIENTS REGULARLY, AND ABLE TO IDENTIFY CONCERNING CHANGES IN THEIR CONDITION OR HOME SAFETY HAZARDS THAT MAY NEED ATTENTION. AS SUCH, MEALS ON WHEELS IS ALSO RAISING AWARENESS WITH HEALTH CARE STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE HEALTH SERVICES THEY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE OLDER AMERICANS THAT HELPS AVERT HEALTH CRISES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN AND TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONS OUT OF HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND REHAB CENTERS BACK INTO THEIR HOMES. IN 2024, MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS BY DRIVING RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY FUNDING TO MEMBERS. OUR FUNDING SUPPORTED CAPACITY BUILDING BROADLY AND SPECIFIC GRANTS FOR MEETING UNMET NEEDS OF CLIENTS, EXPANDING AVAILABILITY OF MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS SUITED TO THE NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS, INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE ISOLATION AMONG HIGH-RISK OLDER ADULTS AND SUPPORT THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND, SUPPORT IN-HOME SAFETY THROUGH MAJOR AND MINOR HOME REPAIRS, AND RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS ASSOCIATED WITH EMERGENCIES. ALONGSIDE THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES LIKE A NEW MEDICALLY TAILORED MEAL TOOLKIT, AIMED AT INSPIRING AND EQUIPPING PROVIDERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO START OFFERING MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS, WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE MEMBERSHIP. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WE OFFER THE MORE (MEMBER OFFERS, REWARDS & EXPERTISE) PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS MEMBERS REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY THROUGH DISCOUNTED PRICING, TRUSTED GUIDANCE AND REWARDS ON THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THEY USE MOST. IN ADDITION, THE STRATEGY AND IMPACT TEAM: - ENGAGES IN RESEARCH TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT AND VALUE THAT MEALS ON WHEELS HAS IN ADDRESSING HUNGER, MALNUTRITION, ISOLATION AND LONELINESS AMONG MILLIONS OF SENIORS EACH YEAR. - SUPPORTED EFFORTS, FUNDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, TO BOOST VACCINATION RATES AMONG OLDER AMERICANS BY LEVERAGING OUR NETWORK IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE VACCINE AWARENESS AMONG THIS HIGH-RISK POPULATION. - DEEPENED OUR INVESTMENT IN A RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT AUGMENT THE CORE NUTRITION COMPONENT OF THE MEALS ON WHEELS OFFERING THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE: 1. THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION IN AN INITIATIVE THAT ENABLED HOME REPAIRS AND SAFETY MODIFICATIONS (SUCH AS INSTALLING RAMPS AND GRAB BARS) TO BE MADE BY LOCAL PROGRAMS TO KEEP SENIORS SAFE AND REDUCE FALL RISKS. TOGETHER IN 2024, WE COMPLETED 604 HOME MODIFICATIONS AND REPAIR PROJECTS IN 19 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS A RESULT OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE REACHED MORE THAN 3,500 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS SERVED BY MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA MEMBERS. 2. PETSMART CHARITIES, WHICH UNDERWROTE OUR NATIONAL STRATEGY AND LOCAL GRANTMAKING TO HELP SENIORS KEEP AND CARE FOR THEIR BELOVED PETS. TOGETHER, WE FUNDED MORE THAN 70 COMMUNITY-BASED PROVIDERS, ACCELERATED ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE AND INCREASED PET FOOD AVAILABILITY IN 33 STATES, EXPANDED LOCAL MARKETING AND STORYTELLING FOR PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY AND SERVED THOUSANDS OF THE FURRY COMPANIONS OF MEALS ON WHEELS CLIENTS. 3. CAESARS FOUNDATION, WHICH INVESTED IN ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND FUNDING TO SUPPORT OUR MEETING UNMET NEED AND SOCIAL CONNECTION GRANT PROGRAMS. 4. WALMART, SUBARU AND FOOD LION CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND PROVIDING RELIEF AND RECOVERY FUNDING TO PROVIDERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANES IN THE LATER PART OF THE YEAR. AS MORE THAN 12,000 AMERICANS TURN 60 EVERY DAY, THIS WORK SUPPORTS OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT LOCAL MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDERS HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA MEMBERSHIP AND ADVOCACY TEAMS PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP OF COMMUNITY-BASED MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDERS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. THIS INCLUDES FEDERAL AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL ENSURING MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF AND ENGAGED IN ALL THE PROGRAM AND CAPACITY-BUILDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT WE PROVIDE. THE MEMBERSHIP TEAM RECRUITS AND RETAINS MEMBERS, ENSURES MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN OUR INITIATIVES AND OFFERINGS, AND PROVIDES RELEVANT INFORMATION, LEARNING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THE NETWORK. LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS RANGE FROM VIRTUAL WEBINARS, SYMPOSIUMS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS TO A PEER-TO-PEER ONLINE FORUM, AND THE FOUR-DAY ANNUAL GATHERING OF SENIOR NUTRITION PROFESSIONS EACH AUGUST. THE ADVOCACY TEAM RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AND THE SENIORS THEY SERVE TO SET ANNUAL FEDERAL POLICY PRIORITIES, CREATE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL MEMBER ADVOCACY EFFORTS, SHARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT AROUND EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE POLICY MATTERS, AND LEADS DIRECT FEDERAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERSHIP IN THE AREAS OF SENIOR HUNGER AND SOCIAL ISOLATION. WE EDUCATE THE ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF ABOUT THE CRITICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY LOCAL MEALS ON WHEELS PROVIDERS AND WORK TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND ACCESS TO HOME-DELIVERED AND CONGREGATE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS, INCREASE FEDERAL FUNDING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY GROWING SENIOR POPULATION AND RISING COSTS, AND BETTER SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS AND CHARITABLE GIVING THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE WORK OF OUR NETWORK. THE ADVOCACY TEAM HAS ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO IMPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL POLICIES AND MAXIMIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT OF CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION.