Meals On Wheels of Northeast Ohio strives to meet some of the most basic needs of our community’s seniors, helping to ensure that no one in need is left hungry or alone. When a gap in services comes into focus, the organization gets to work creating and implementing unique solutions to help make sure needs are better met.
In 2022, Meals On Wheels NEO launched a new food truck program to serve more individuals in need of nutritious meals.
Meals On Wheels of NEO – Who We Are
Meals On Wheels of Northeast Ohio provides a nutritious meal, companionship, and a watchful eye on the health and safety of seniors. Each year, the organization delivers over 300,000 meals to nearly 2,500 homebound seniors in Stark, Summit, and Wayne Counties.
Meals On Wheels NEO is a program of Vantage Aging, an Akron-based nonprofit that promotes a positive perspective on aging across 38 Ohio counties through home-delivered meals, Home Wellness Solutions, paid, hands-on job training, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteerism.
Meals On Wheels Food Truck – an Innovative Solution to Filling Community Gaps
Meals On Wheels of Northeast Ohio now provides fresh, healthy meals to our neighbors facing hunger in Wayne County. After noticing a gap in the community for these services, MOWNEO wanted to meet the needs by designing this new program.
Meals On Wheels NEO’s food truck program is a win-win for residents and organizations alike in Wayne County. It allows meals to go to high-need areas, even if there is not a facility willing to open its doors as a space to provide meals. It also allows us to partner with organizations that are willing to provide space, but unable to pick up meals or supervise the site.
The Meals On Wheels NEO food truck distributes well-balanced, nutritious meals that include protein, vegetables, fruit, and grains.
Meals On Wheels NEO currently partners with Wooster Hope Center to provide boxes of foot to the local community. Wooster Hope Center aims to foster self-confidence and to embrace the inherent dignity and worth of individuals by meeting them where they are and providing the most basic of necessities. We are excited to be working with the Hope Center to help more seniors in need.
How You Can Help
Currently, Meals On Wheels NEO is looking for additional parts in our tri-county area to partner with to deliver this much-needed service. If your organization in Stark, Summit, or Wayne County is interested in getting involved with the food truck program, contact Jay Varnes at jvarnes@vantageaging.org for more information.
Meals On Wheels NEO relies on the generous support of individual donations and community-based funding. Your support, no matter how small, contributes to direct services toward our community’s most vulnerable members. The organization is grateful for its dedicated supporters and could not continue this work without the backing of this amazing community. To support Meals On Wheels, visit our giving page or contact Amina Hall at ahall@vantageaging.org for more information.