Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels
Delivering More than a Meal
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals, social contact and other services to the homebound elderly, ill and disabled in eastern Washtenaw County, to enable them to enjoy healthier, safer, and more independent lives. We envision a community where every senior feels nourished, valued and supported.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Home-delivered meals
Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels has been delivering prepared meals to the homebound elderly and medically fragile of the greater Ypsilanti area since 1974. We realize that many homebound residents take comfort in remaining in their own homes, but are unable to shop or cook for themselves. The meals and the personal contact we provide help people care for themselves in their homes.
PALS
For many homebound people, a pet is a treasured companion and an important tool against loneliness. To help clients care for their furry friends, YMOW offers free delivery of pet food, cat litter and other pet supplies through its Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors (P.A.L.S.) program.
In partnership with the Humane Society of Huron Valley and Meals on Wheels America’s We Love Pets program, YMOW delivers thousands of pounds of food, treats and cat litter to dozens of YMOW clients’ pets each year. Supplies are delivered monthly to the clients’ door.
In addition to food and supplies, YMOW clients can access pet grooming and veterinary services, including nail trims and preventative care, for a small contribution.
Pets play an important role in the lives of many seniors. But for those living on a fixed and limited income, the cost of keeping a pet can be daunting. P.A.L.S. allows seniors to enjoy the many benefits of pet ownership without the financial stress, leaving the senior with
Home Repair program
Started in 2016 and running through 2017, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels is offering a pilot program in partnership with the Edward N. & Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation and Meals on Wheels of America to assist our senior clients with needed home repairs.
Since the inception of this program the following types of services have or can be provided to senior clients who own their own home:
1) electrical work
2) Bathroom or kitchen modifications
3) Grab bars
4) Zero barrier entry modifications
5) Flooring or roofing repairs
6) Ramp modifications
These are the typical programs offered and the average support provided per client ranges from $290 - $1,7000
Senior Personal Care Pantry
In 2017, Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels opened our senior personal care pantry thanks to fundraising and grant support from the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation. This pantry is unique in our community in that we can provided needed personal care pantry items directly to our Seniors door who are in need.
Items typically provided:
- Adult diapers
- Diabetic lotions & creams
- Band aids & ointments
- Toiletry items
- Shoes, coats & gloves
- Compression socks
- Testing strips
- Walkers, canes and wheelchairs
Since launching in February 2017 more than 50 clients have been assisted.
Resource Advocacy & Case management support
We realize that many seniors need advocacy and support that goes beyond nutrition and at Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels our clients come first and we want to help if help is requested.
The typical support that is provided to our senior clients and their family range from:
- Resource directory access to all services in the local community.
- Support with accessing services to help our seniors age in place.
- Caregiver support for referrals to support groups and in-home services to care for their family member.
- Benefit sign-up support for Medicare/Medicaid, Food stamps and other services
- Working in tandem with other senior social service support agencies
- Review of medications
- Creating a friendly visit program to assist clients who are feeling socially isolated.
Where we work
Awards
Best Social Service Organization, Washtenaw County 2020
Ecurrent
Affiliations & memberships
Member, Meals on Wheels America 2019
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with disabilities, Chronically ill people, Low-income people, Retired people, Seniors
Related Program
Home-delivered meals
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of meals delivered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, Seniors, People with disabilities, Chronically ill people, Low-income people, Seniors
Related Program
Home-delivered meals
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of meals served or provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors, Older adults, People with disabilities, People with diseases and illnesses, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Home-delivered meals
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of emergency meals provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors
Related Program
Home-delivered meals
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of homeowners/tenants rating their feeling of safety in and around their homes as satisfactory
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
A recent survey of clients resulted in 91 percent reporting improved feelings of safety since receiving Meals on Wheels.
Number of clients whose nutrition has improved
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Older adults, Seniors, People with disabilities, Chronically ill people, Low-income people
Related Program
Home-delivered meals
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of health/hygiene product and/or tools of care (mosquito nets, soap, etc.) administered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with disabilities, People with diseases and illnesses, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Senior Personal Care Pantry
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This number reflects the total number of client requests fulfilled. Some requests may have included more than one item, such as incontinence products, cleaning supplies or personal hygiene supplies.
Number of older adults being supported to live at home through home care, assistive technology, and/or personal support plans
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, People with disabilities, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Resource Advocacy & Case management support
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our social work team provides wrap-around support for every client of YMOW.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We ensure that seniors and other homebound adults in our community have access to healthy food, social contact, necessary pet supplies and personal care items. We also improve their ability to remain safe in their own homes by providing minor home repairs, case management and support.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels provides meals to 200 or more clients six days a week. Fresh produce, personal care products and animal supplies also are delivered to our clients, who have limited ability to leave their homes. We partner with many local businesses and organizations both to supplement our volunteer pool and to raise funds and awareness for our organization and its work. In 2021 we implemented a chore support program called Care on Wheels. Partnering with our local Seniors Helping Seniors organization, we provide clients with a caregiver who helps with household chores and laundry while providing welcome relief from social isolation. Also in 2021, we implemented our medical friendly meals program to meet the unique dietary needs of clients with renal and cardiac health conditions. This is particularly important due to the number of clients who suffered kidney damage caused by COVID-19.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
YMOW has been delivering meals to our homebound neighbors for 45 years. Our dedicated care associates transport meals in our fleet of dedicated vehicles using temperature-controlled equipment to ensure that cold meals stay cold and hot meals remain hot. Through support of donors and local partnerships, we deliver nearly 1,000 pounds of pet food and supplies, as well as nearly 3,000 pounds of fresh produce, milk and bread every month.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels has delivered meals to homebound seniors and adults since 1974. Fresh produce, personal care products and animal supplies also are delivered to our clients, who have limited ability to leave their homes.
Through our CAPABLE program, we pair seniors with a team of professionals for a five-month intervention in which changes are made to improve a senior's safety at home. Home repairs and modifications, occupational therapy and nursing are all part of the CAPABLE initiative.
Care on Wheels pairs clients with caregivers who provide help with household chores, helping to keep our clients safer and providing a relief from social isolation.
Our pet support program has recently expanded to include mobile grooming and veterinary services, helping our clients to enjoy the companionship of their pets without the financial burden.
We also provide medical friendly meals to clients with renal and cardiac needs, and food and support to homebound neighbors under 60, helping them to age into our program with better health and fewer needs.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels
Board of directorsas of 06/07/2023
Dieter Otto
Eastern Michigan University
Term: 2021 - 2025
Dieter Otto
Eastern Michigan University
Christine Laing
Fair Food Network
Susan Gregory
Eastern Michigan University
Lou Maskill
Michigan Advocacy Program
Dan Carlton
Gear Gear Inc.
Scott Godbold
Criteo
Susan Gregory
Eastern Michigan University
Adam Karibian
Toyota
Brent Kolb
Dexter Family Dentistry/University of Michigan
Tim Kowaleski
Retired
Cyndi Shepard
Tara Truax
IHA
Larry Aeilts
Washtenaw Community College
Kalee Murphy
Edward Jones
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/26/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.