Metroport Meals On Wheels, Inc.

MMOW's overarching goal is to support independence for elderly as well as medically frail or disabled individuals of any age. In doing so, we strive to recognize the individuality and worth of each person we serve. MMOW's Home-Delivered Meal Program addresses hunger, food insecurity, nutrition, isolation, personal safety, and socialization issues while building community partnerships. MMOW cares for seniors and medically fragile individuals regardless of age or financial circumstances; is dedicated to relieving hunger and isolation while improving their quality of life; supports their efforts to live independently and age in place in their own homes; and ensures that they are receiving good nutrition and the opportunity for social interaction.

In 2018, MMOW provided a total of 109,350 meals, up 30% from 84,004 in 2017. MMOW will continue to use the output of meals as a key indicator of effectiveness. Total meals includes home-delivered meals, shelf-staple and supplemental meals, nutritional supplements, and senior center meals. MMOW assisted 379 homebound seniors and fed over 1,000 seniors at senior center community luncheons.

Our optimal outcome for home delivery is assisting a participant for as long as necessary during recovery from an accident or illness until they can resume their normal activities. In 2018, 13.7% of our participants were able to recover and resume normal independent activities of daily living. The next best outcome is providing meals and support that enable a participant to live all their days in the home of their choice. 85.3% of all the homebound participants we served were able to remain in their homes.

Genworth reports that the cost of assisted living in Texas as $119 per day with the cost of nursing care approximately double that. The majority of MMOW's participants are unable to afford such care. Many would be Medicaid eligible thus increasing the state budget and placing added burdens on taxpayers if they were unable to continue living at home.

MMOW's goal for community luncheons at area senior centers is to provide the opportunity for active seniors to gather in fellowship and share a nutritious meal. Recent research findings indicate that chronic loneliness and isolation pose serious health risks. Isolation has the same harmful impact as smoking and twice that of obesity! For active seniors, isolation can be brought on by personal illness, loss of hearing or mobility, loss of a job or community involvement, death of a spouse, family member, or friends as well as by relocation to be nearer family. MMOW's luncheons not only interrupt isolation, they provide a well hearty, well-balanced meal that for many is their only meal of the day.

MMOW's Home-Delivered Meal Program is an ongoing service that addresses hunger, food insecurity, nutrition, isolation, personal safety, and socialization issues while building community partnerships. MMOW provides weekday noon meals, embracing anyone of any age or financial circumstances who cannot consistently provide for his/her nutritional needs because of the frailties of aging, a chronic medical condition, physical limitations, or isolation. This includes providing meals for the spouse who is the primary caregiver or the children of a single parent who is unable to prepare meals.

Participants eagerly anticipate meal delivery and personal visits that also provide safety checks plus hugs and conversation. Community collaborations provide nutritional supplements at no cost with no prescription required, bonus meals for evenings and weekends, personal gifts and necessities during the holidays that assur3 participants that they are not forgotten, home repairs, and friendly visitors.

Unlike the majority of Meals On Wheels programs, MMOW is NOT federally funded. MMOW is committed to providing meals and services built on community support instead of state and federal programs. This commitment has enabled MMOW to build a people-centered program that is responsive to the needs of our neighbors regardless of age. We nurture personal relationships with our participants, and value them as individuals and friends. We frequently serve participants who would not meet the eligibility requirements of government- funded programs.

Instead of operating a centralized kitchen and transporting food from the kitchen to delivery points, MMOW partners with carefully selected hospitals or restaurants to prepare meals locally. Volunteers pick up the meals locally and deliver in the same community. The benefit is getting the freshest possible food to our participants with the least amount of holding time while building awareness in the communities of the needs of its seniors. Our food partners provide home-delivered and senior center meals at a discounted price.

MMOW offers community meals for active seniors in twelve different locations. Each location's schedule meets the needs of that particular community and ranges from one meal monthly to three meals per week and feature wholesome food, lively conversation, dominoes, cards, and bingo. MMOW’s luncheons are “not-to-be-missed” special occasions regardless of whether the participants are lifelong residents or new to the community. MMOW operates its senior center luncheons on a “No Reservations Necessary” basis and whole-heartedly welcomes any senior seeking a meal or fellowship.

MMOW structures programs that have a solid community basis. MMOW’s ability to partner with the communities we serve, with food partners within the communities and with active community volunteers enhances the quality of life for everyone.

Since 1980, MMOW has been Neighbors Helping Neighbors as we formulated client-centric services that support independence for seniors in their own homes. MMOW engages communities as we embrace the needs of our aging or chronically ill neighbors and provides opportunities for volunteers to play meaningful roles in their care and nurture. MMOW's goal of interrupting isolation is as important as relieving hunger and eliminating food insecurity for our participants. MMOW's small staff provides consistency and continuity as we engage volunteers and others in the community in our ongoing efforts to inspire respect and concern for our senior neighbors.

Volunteers are instrumental partners as they help MMOW deliver meals to hundreds of homebound participants, serve community meals to seniors at 12 senior center sites, deliver shelf-stable meals to home-delivery participants ensuring the ready availability of nutritious food for evening and weekend meals, deliver 3,223 nutritional supplement meals to homebound participants, coordinate the donation of over 1,000 gift items homebound seniors to make sure they were remembered during the holidays, and deliver pet food to ensure that homebound participants could keep their pet companions.

Unlike the majority of Meals On Wheels programs, MMOW chooses NOT to receive federal funds, receives no state funding, is not a United Way agency and tailors its program to meet the needs of participants we serve. MMOW believes participants benefit most with the local approach, with the partnership of local food partners, volunteers and co. MMOW has made a conscious effort to diversify sources of income. To that effect, special events, our resale shop, and individual donors have provided our greatest sources of revenue. Historically, MMOW’s total revenue is derived from the following sources: Individuals--35%, Events--15%, Resale--18%, City Contracts--10%, Foundation, Civic, Church, & Corporate--15%, and Misc. (fees, interest)--7%

MMOW works diligently to leverage resources and optimize support within the community to provide added value for participants. Instead of operating a centralized kitchen and transporting food from the kitchen to delivery points and senior centers, MMOW partners with carefully selected hospitals or restaurants to prepare meals locally at a discounted price. Volunteers pick up and deliver meals in the same community ensuring that participant receive the freshest possible food with the least amount of holding time while building awareness in the communities of the needs of its seniors. Community collaborations provide home repairs, a ready supply of nutritional supplement meals, a well-stocked food pantry, Christmas gifts, and much more.

MMOW has a 39-year history of taking good care of its participants and of being a good steward of the resources entrusted to it for the benefit of seniors and the frail of any age who need assistance with meals.

Frail seniors, alone and hungry, paint a dismal picture. Volunteers bringing hot meals, lively conversation, smiles, and hugs dramatically change the picture. MMOW relieves seniors of their greatest fears–loss of independence and life in a nursing home–by providing support enabling them to age with dignity and live independently in their homes. MMOW provides assurances for the seniors--freedom from worry about food (84% report diminished food anxiety), knowledge that there will be a personal visit (95% cite feeling safer knowing that a volunteer will visit regularly), and for their families, assurance that a caring volunteer will look in on their loved one daily. MMOW’s foundation of community support walks hand-in-hand with its grassroots culture, providing options for community engagement that bring added value to participants. It provides the incentive for partnerships with community food providers who prepare meals locally. It engages volunteers in meaningful roles nurturing seniors.

MMOW's staff and volunteers provide consistent and concerned presence in the participants' lives and serve as a vital link to help in an emergency. Because MMOW is there for them, participants receive the support and nourishment that enables them to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Recipients of home-delivered meals are medically fragile. Long or short-term changes in the need for services due to hospitalizations and rehabilitation issues often occur. We never know when we will be called upon to add new participants to the home-delivered meals program. Our infrastructure, therefore, is well established and ready to accommodate individual needs immediately. We respond quickly to all requests and normally are able to begin meal delivery within a day or two.

MMOW provides so much more than just “hot” delivered and community center meals. Remembering birthdays and holidays, bringing treats and surprises, engaging community groups to prepare special favors and gifts — these are but a few of the added value experiences MMOW and its volunteers provide. Winter and shelf stable meals ensure that there is always food in the pantry and Stockings for Seniors ensure that no homebound senior is forgotten during the holidays. Pet Patrol assists with monthly deliveries of food for our seniors’ beloved pet companions. MMOW’s extra touches make each participant feel valued every day!