Meals on Wheels: A Lifeline for Seniors

Senior hunger is a serious, though often overlooked, issue in our nation. In Idaho, one in six seniors struggles with hunger. Home delivered meal programs like Metro Meals on Wheels provide home-bound adults with nutritious food to maintain their health and independence.

There has been a home delivered meal program to senior citizens and disabled adults in Ada County since 1974. Since 2014, Metro Meals on Wheels has been delivering the support that keeps seniors in their own homes, where they want to be. 85% say it improves their health, 92% say it enables them to remain living at home, and 87% say it makes them feel more safe and secure. Seniors remaining at home, out of hospitals and nursing homes, saves billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid costs.*

Monday through Friday, more than 150 volunteers load freshly prepared meals into their cars and deliver them to homes of people who are unable to shop for and prepare food. The volunteers, many of whom have been volunteering for years, are delivering more than a hot meal. They are also delivering a smile, a handshake and social connection.

Metro Meals on Wheels delivers meals Monday through Friday with the option of having two frozen meals delivered on Friday for the weekend. Meals are also provided at senior centers in Boise, Garden City, Meridian, Eagle, Star and Kuna. The menus are reviewed by a registered dietitian to meet daily nutrition requirements for seniors.

For information about how you can get involved in the Metro Meals on Wheels program, including signing up to volunteer to deliver meals, making a donation, or ordering meals for yourself or someone you know, call us at (208) 321-0030 or visit the Contact page.

*Statistics provided by Meals on Wheels America