Meals on Wheels Orange County
Nourishing Lives
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The older adult population is the fastest growing segment of Orange County. In fact, seniors are the only growing population in the county, and are expected to double in number by the year 2040 (Orange County Older Adult Profile, 2016).
We must be proactive in facing the many challenges this age group faces: namely, food insecurity, health issues, and loneliness. About 1 in 2 older adults is malnourished or is at risk of becoming malnourished, which can lead to poorer health and repeated hospital stays (The Powerful Impact of Meals on Wheels, 2017). Additionally, while socialization is agreed to be of equal importance to seniors, 43.8% of older adults in Orange County report not having anyone to help them when they experience difficulties (OCNHA: Orange County Report on Older Adults, 2010).
These challenges make it evident that the growing senior population will need increased care in the coming years.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Lunch Café
Hot, nutritious lunches are provided at 23 senior centers in central and north Orange County to people 60 years and older. In addition to maintaining the physical health of older adults, these programs also enrich the emotional and psychological health of seniors by sponsoring a wide range of activities. During COVID-19, this program was pivoted to a Grab & Go meal solution.
Meals on Wheels Program
The Meals on Wheels program is for homebound seniors who are unable to shop and/or prepare meals for themselves. Meals on Wheels OC delivers breakfast, lunch, and dinner directly to their homes Monday-Friday. Participants also receive case management, which helps participants evaluate and find acceptable solutions to meet their individual needs. Meals on Wheels OC also has a Friendly Visitor Program that connects caring community volunteers with isolated Meals on Wheels participants who benefit from the social interaction. The Home Safety Program provides home safety inspections and repairs in the homes of the frail Meals on Wheels participants. For Meals on Wheels participants who need in-home services, this program arranges for paid caregivers to provide basic personal care and chore assistance for very low income seniors.
Adult Day Services
Meals on Wheels OC provides two types of Adult Day Services: Adult Day Care (social model) and Adult Day Health Care (the medical model). Our Adult Day Care Center is located in Buena Park at the Buena Park Senior Center and offers support and temporary respite to families and friends who are caring for a frail older loved one with memory impairment, dementia, and early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The program provides a safe and comfortable day time environment where seniors can enjoy games, crafts and social interaction with their peers.
Meals on Wheels OC's Adult Day Health Care Centers are located in Anaheim and Santa Ana and offer comprehensive day time care and licensed medical supervision to functionally impaired adults. This program often helps participants avoid placement in nursing homes or other full-time care facilities while providing caregivers temporary support and rest from caregiver responsibilities. Services offered include door-to-door transportation, medication management, meals, activities, and physical and occupational therapy.
Care Coordination
Building on our partnerships with area hospitals to improve care coordination and reduce hospital readmissions for older adults, Meals on Wheels Orange County has formed an innovative collaborative with a senior housing complex to provide case management services to residents who were homeless or at-risk of homelessness. These residents typically have 6 to 7 separate diagnoses (i.e., diabetes, mental health issues, congestive heart failure). Our program provides these residents with Meals on Wheels and daily visits by our care managers who assist with chronic disease management, medical appointments, access to health care, access to mental health group therapy, and legal assistance. Thanks to the success of this program, we are looking to partner with other low-income senior housing programs to deliver these life-changing services to their residents. In addition, Meals on Wheels OC also provides these services under contract with major healthcare plans to support person-centered solutions.
Where we work
Awards
Affiliations & memberships
United Way Member Agency 2018
Orange County Funders Roundtable 2017
California Nonprofit of the Year 2019
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of Homebound meals delivered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors, Multiracial people, People with disabilities
Related Program
Meals on Wheels Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We provide nourishing meals and supportive case management to isolated, home-bound older adults.
Number of congregate meals served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors, Multiracial people, People with disabilities
Related Program
Lunch Café
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We serve hot lunches and an opportunity to be social for thousands of older adults at senior centers in central and north Orange County.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
The senior population in Orange County needs our help during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond to keep them safe and nourished.
The percentage of older adults living below poverty level is increasing, and a high cost of living coupled with health, housing, and social issues means that older adults in Orange County are experiencing increasing financial and physical hardships. What's more, this population is the only growing group, predicted to double in size by 2040.
Meals on Wheels Orange County is facing these problems head on by nourishing the well being of older adults through nutrition, social connections, and supportive services. Since 1967, Meals on Wheels OC (formerly SeniorServ) has been the largest nonprofit senior nutrition and supportive service provider in Orange County, serving nearly one million meals to over 10,000 at-risk older adults annually. We deliver programs and services that reduce hunger and improve wellness for seniors so that they may live independently in the homes and communities they love.
Programs like Meals on Wheels, Lunch Café, and Adult Day Services are making a difference in Orange County, and thanks to our sponsors, donors, and volunteers, we're able to give the older adults participating in these programs the care they need.
Every senior deserves to feel safe, healthy, and cared for. Learn more at www.MealsOnWheelsOC.org.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Meals on Wheels Orange County has over 50 years of experience as the largest senior nutrition and supportive service provider in Orange County. Our mission is to nourish the wellness, purpose, and dignity of older adults and their families in our community through our programs and services: the Senior Nutrition program (Meals on Wheels with case management and senior center Lunch Cafés - pivoted to Grab & Go solution during COVID-19; Adult Day Care (social model); Adult Day Health Care (medical model); and Care Coordination.
Our programs solve a diverse group of problems, aiming to provide support where it is needed. Our Senior Nutrition programs are made up of Meals on Wheels and Lunch Café (Grab & Go) program. Every Meals on Wheels client receives 3 meals a day, 5 days a week from a friendly volunteer and is partnered with a Case Manager who provides a regular check-in and referral services. Through the Lunch Café program, we partner with 23 senior centers across the county to provide hot, nutritious food to active seniors. Finally, our Adult Day Care and Adult Day Healthcare Centers support the medical and social needs of adults living at home, but who need daytime assistance for their health and safety. The centers provide a caring environment that provides nutritious meals, opportunities to socialize and participate in activities, valuable experiences outside the house, and respite for their caregivers and family.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Meals on Wheels Orange County has an extremely dedicated and talented team of staff and volunteers that lead the organization. Our current Board consists of physicians, an attorney, accountants, and other business and community leaders to assist our CEO in leading the organization.
Holly Hagler, President & CEO, has an MBA from Northwestern University and has had many years of experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. She is a recognized industry leader in the provision of services to the aging.
Our Social Services Department, responsible for the Meals on Wheels and the Senior Lunch Café Programs, has personnel with Masters Degrees in Public Health, Social Work, and Human Services; in addition, many are Certified Health Education Specialists and also have experience in Elderly Nutrition. We maintain a bilingual staff to address the population we serve.
Our Adult Day Health Care programs are staffed with multiple licensed personnel including a Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, a Speech Therapist, and a Masters in Social Work staff.
Our finance department is administered by our Vice President of Finance and Administration who is a CPA with over twenty years of executive management experience. Our Controller has a bachelors' degree and is a CPA with ten years of business experience.
Our Development Department is administered by Our Vice President for Advancement who has a degree in Marketing and is a Certified Fundraising Professional. Our Director of Volunteer Management has a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Human Services. Our Senior Director of Communications has a B.S. in Organizational Management.
Finally, we have a dedicated team of over 600 volunteers who deliver food, serve lunches, and visit seniors. Our success is largely due to their commitment to using their time and talent to help us help seniors stay happy and healthy.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Because of our commitment to staying abreast of the senior nutrition field, we are Orange County's senior nutrition and support services provider. We served over 2,000,000 meals in 2021, feeding nearly 20,000 seniors with home-delivered meals and senior lunch meals at 25 locations throughout Orange County. We have earned the loyalty of 600 volunteers who achieved 85,315 of work in 2018 alone.
Meals on Wheels Orange County is a leader in the senior nutrition field. Our Executive Director participates in national and local boards of directors. Our corporate culture of collaboration has garnered our support from the government, the community, and other nonprofits providing the same service.
Our long-term overall strategy and the challenge is to continue our mission of nourishing the wellness, purpose, and dignity of older adults and their families in our community. These plans are proving to be fruitful: in February 2018 two of our Adult Day Services centers were selected to be partners through CalOptima's PACE expansion. This will give the seniors we serve more options for their healthcare needs.
In addition, our organization plans to grow as the senior population increases. Improvements to determining the economic impact of our programs, advocacy, and use of technology are all goals that we aim to achieve in the future.
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 identify bright spots and enhance positive 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 take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), 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
Financials
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about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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.
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.
Meals on Wheels Orange County
Board of directorsas of 02/07/2023
Mr. Earle Zucht
Nextworld, LLC
Term: 2022 - 2023
Mr. Randy A. Platt
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Care Partners Integrated Healthcare
Term: 2022 - 2023
Earle Zucht
Nextworld, LLC
Randy A. Platt
Care Partners Integrated Healthcare
Scott Heinila
Producers Choice Network
DeVon Wiens
Moss Adams
Corey Saenz
COR Branding Agency
Gary Coburn
Restaurant Concept Innovations
Stephen J. Margetic
Hyder & Company
Stuart Moss
Keystone Capital Markets, Inc.
Lynn Daucher
Former, California Department of Aging
Chalat Rajaram, MD
Vitas Healthcare
Di Patterson
Founder & CEO, Success in Aging Centers
Susan Lucero
Strategic Sales Manager, Celonis
Richard Lee
Associate Director, BKM Capitol Partners
Tom Sowers
Regional Managing Director of Sales, 24HR Home Care
Fariba Toofanian
Founder, Bloor Business Consulting
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:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/13/2020GuideStar 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 disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- 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.