The Need

In March 2008, the Meals on Wheels Association of America Foundation released a research study entitled, “The Causes, Consequences and Future of Senior Hunger in America.” While the study focused on people ages 60 and older, the findings very likely would be similar for younger adults with disabilities.

“Among seniors, those with limited incomes, under age 70, African-Americans, Hispanics, never-married individuals, renters, and persons living in the South are all more likely to be at-risk for hunger. At the same time, the risk of hunger extends up into the income and weath distributions.”

“Low intakes of essential nutrients present a serious threat to the health of elderly persons in the United States. These nutritional deficiencies can have serious consequences including diminishing immune response, longer hospital stays, impairment in physical function, premature institutionalization, reduced activity levels and higher risks of coronary heart disease.”

“…seniors without access to emotional and financial support are substantially more likely to suffer from hunger.”

“We found that after controlling for other relevant factors in the senior population, seniors are more likely to be at-risk of hunger if they are ages 60 to 64, poor, African-American or Hispanic, a high school dropout, divorced or separated, living with a grandchild, or a renter.”

Benefits
Having a friendly volunteer deliver a noon meal Monday through Friday insures that the frail individual has a well-balanced meal. A home delivered meal helps combat hunger and prevent malnutrition.

In addition, daily contact with the volunteers who deliver meals helps to prevent emotional and mental depression which are synonymous with social isolation. Volunteers and clients benefit by forming friendships and brighten each others day.

Volunteers report unmet needs they discover while delivering meals and staff members work to meet those needs. It may be investigating a gas leak, providing a heater or electric fan, finding someone to make a small home repair, etc.

Sometimes the person delivering a meal will find a client in a life threatening situation and make arrangements for emergency care. It could be someone who has fallen and broken a hip. It could be someone who is in a coma.
The volunteers are trained to investigate when someone fails to answer the door.

Books on Wheels
The Abilene Public Library offers home delivery service to Meals on Wheels clientele. Library books, CD's or audio cassettes will be delivered to the home along with the meals.

Clients sign up at home and get to select the type of books they most enjoy reading as well as request books by their favorite authors. They can request large print books, books in Spanish, on CD or cassette.

When they have finished reading their books, they place them in the zippered blue library bag and ask the Meals on Wheels volunteer to return them to the office or they can have someone drop them off at one of the Abilene libraries.

Groceries on Wheels
Groceries on Wheels provides a selection of shelf stable food once a month for clients who need the extra help. There is cereal, powdered milk, peanut butter, canned meat, soup & crackers, macaroni & cheese, instant potatoes, pancake mix & syrup, canned fruit & juice, etc.

Meals on Wheels clients may receive one large grocery bag of food once every 30 days. The groceries are delivered by the volunteer who is scheduled to deliver the clients lunch that day.

Donations of cash to buy food for the pantry are needed. We also welcome donations of any food items that are non-perishable and do not need to be refrigerated or frozen. Approximately 120 bags of groceries are provided each month.

Pet Food on Wheels
Bags of dry dog food and cat food are available for Meals on Wheels clients who have one or more dogs. Some of the pet food is donated by Pied Piper Wildlife in Hamlin and is provided to Meals on Wheels clients free of charge.

Recipients Wish List
Electric Fans - Large Box Fans are preferred