Chicago Fund on Aging and Disability

Meals on Wheels Chicago envisions a community in which all basic needs are met and barriers to achieving independence are eliminated. Our mission is to therefore ensure that both homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities benefit from programs that improve quality of life and maximize independence. We achieve this by raising both awareness and private funds to support meal delivery.

Meals on Wheels Chicago has programs benefiting seniors and people with disabilities within every neighborhood of Chicago. All of MOWC’s programs share the goal of independence and give clients the option to stay in their own homes while living their best lives possible.
The programs are:
Holiday Meals Program (HMP) - The Holiday Meals Delivery Program for Chicago’s Senior Citizens addresses unmet nutritional needs on six federal holidays, delivering meals to homebound seniors over the age of 60. In doing so, MOWC is providing clients with nutrition and a greater measure of independence to help stabilize their home environments.
Home Delivered Meals for Individuals with Disabilities (HDMID) - For individuals with disabilities from 18-59 years old, the Home Delivered Meals for Individuals with Disabilities program offers in-home weekday meal service for those challenged by the preparation of meals, in addition to the holiday meals.
As an outcome of the pandemic, Meals on Wheels Chicago also launched our new Fruit Bowl program which allows each client to receive a bag of fresh fruit. This helps add to their nutrition intake to be healthy & strong.
Sadly, the cost of food, limited transportation to grocery stores, and a fixed income can limit a senior’s access to fresh produce and essential items. In response, we have launched the Nourish Chicago Food Pantry as part of the Congregate Senior Meal Program (CSMP). This helps encourage corporations with their employee engagement strategies and individual volunteerism, while helping even more vulnerable citizens who are food insecure.

Meals on Wheels Chicago’s partnership with the City of Chicago began in 1987, and on Thanksgiving 1988 we delivered our first holiday meal to 1,218 homebound seniors. Meals on Wheels Chicago’s partnership with the City of Chicago and Open Kitchens means that together we now provide 4.7 million meals to Chicago’s homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities each year.

The Home Delivered Meal Programs is a partnership program with the City of Chicago and Open Kitchens. Meals on Wheels Chicago relies on the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services and Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities to expertly manage client intake and inquiries through their Information and Assistance Unit, where all requests for meal delivery are referred to case managers. These referrals are directed to caseworkers in the areas where the client resides and an in-home assessment is conducted to determine client eligibility, independent of income. Once eligibility is established, clients are enrolled in the city meal program and will begin receiving deliveries immediately. All clients enrolled in the full-time program are automatically included in the Meal Program.

Our program expansion continues with the launch of Nourish Chicago Pantry in 2022 to help address the increase in food cost and inflation. Most of the seniors we serve struggle on incomes below the poverty level. After paying for the basic fixed expenses, this leaves an average of only $47 per week for essentials like groceries, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and clothing. Our Nourish Chicago Pantry provides a large amount of fresh produce and proteins to provide healthy options.

We also have started a Pet Pack program that provides food, medicine and treats/toys on a monthly basis to those seniors in need. Many pets provide a source of love for those who suffer in isolation and the pet program helps keep their furry loved ones healthy.

We have also started a corporate program that provides wellness, toiletry, and cleaning supply packs that seniors need and often do not have the extra budget to obtain. This allows us to help address their wellness, health and dignity. Often included is also a handcrafted Love note to let them know that someone cares and they are not forgotten.