Meals On Wheels – Miles of Smiles Delivered

30 Jun

30Jun

Source: Royal Voluntary Service

NOT LONG AGO, Meals on Wheels of Tampa celebrated its’ 40^th Anniversary – a remarkable achievement indeed, for an organization privately-funded from day one. What better time than now to take a “walk down memory lane” – sharing not only the highlights of our story, but also the history of Meals on Wheels as a global program?

Meals on Wheels Across America

Meals on Wheels operates in virtually every community in America through a network of more than 5,000 independently-run local programs, supported by over two million volunteers. While the diversity of each program’s services and operations may vary based on the needs and resources of their communities, all committed to delivering nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s homebound to live nourished lives with independence and dignity.

Meals on Wheels History

The opening photograph above depicts members of a London WVS centre, in 1947, loading pails containing individually portioned Meals on Wheels onto a delivery van. The first ever Meals on Wheels began in 1940 in the United Kingdom during “the Blitz” when thousands of people had lost their homes and had no way of cooking meals for their families. So the Women’s Volunteer Service (WVS) for Civil Defense of Great Britain (now known as the Royal Voluntary Service) started preparing and delivering meals to those in need. The first home delivery of a meal was made by the WVS in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England in 1943. These volunteer women also delivered refreshments on carts or “canteens” to soldiers and these canteens soon became known as “Meals on Wheels,” giving the nutritional program its name and providing a legacy of care that continues to this day in communities around the world.

Today, there are Meals on Wheels programs in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The first ever home-delivered meal program in the United States began in Philadelphia in January 1954. A social worker pioneered a program to provide nourishment that met the dietary needs of homebound seniors and other “shut-ins” in the area who otherwise would have to go hungry. Most of the volunteers were high school students, who were dubbed “Platter Angels.” The “Platter Angels” would prepare, package, and deliver food to the elderly and disabled through their community. The daily delivery consisted of one nutritionally balanced hot meal to eat at lunchtime, and a dinner consisting of a cold sandwich and milk along with varying side dishes.

Meal on Wheels of Tampa

Meals on Wheels of Tampa was founded by Gloria Fuentes, a Tampa resident experiencing difficulty when caring for her two homebound relatives who lived on opposite sides of the city. Recognizing the need to assist not only her family, but also others who wanted to remain independent in the security of their own homes, she formed a committee of pastors and church members throughout Tampa to help organize the effort.

On March 17, 1975, Meals on Wheels of Tampa began with a group of dedicated volunteers who cooked meals in the recreation hall of a local United Methodist Church and delivered 14 meals to people who were homebound. The number of those in need of the meals provided by Meals On Wheels has steadily increased over the years.

In 1993, after 17 years of helping people from the kitchens and offices of neighboring organizations throughout the community, Meals on Wheels purchased the building at 550 W. Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa to house its Administrative Offices and Kitchen. In 2006, as a result of a capital campaign, a major kitchen renovation was completed. The renovation began after an extensive strategic planning process focusing on growth while maintaining the grassroots, personal touch, care, and compassion that is synonymous with Meals On Wheels of Tampa. The new commercial grade kitchen enabled the mission to reach more people in need of food. Now, after years of faithful volunteer and community support, Meals On Wheels of Tampa serves approximately 700 meals per day to our homebound neighbors. Creative planning and generous donations from the community has made it possible for Tampa’s homebound individuals and seniors to receive the help they need. Believe it or not, our remarkable Drivers will this year cover just about the equivalent distance of a trip to the moon – while nourishing and enriching the independent lives of the homebound and seniors!

Meals on Wheels of Tampa is proud to have been awarded with a Four-Star Rating for the past 3 consecutive years from Charity Navigator. Their rating system examines two broad areas of a charity’s performance; their Financial Health and their Accountability & Transparency. Our Four-Star Rating – defined by Charity Navigator as “Exceptional: Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause.” – signifies our commitment to fiscal responsibility and ethical business practices. In fact, 85 cents of every dollar we collect goes directly to the cost of food.

Author's Note (Dennis J. Pitocco) – I’ve had the distinct pleasure of serving on the Board of Meals for the past seven years and as Chairman & President for the past three years. In every imaginable respect, it has been a labor of love, bringing credibility to the adage: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

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