Our Mission
The mission of Meals on Wheels Rowan is to deliver food and nutritious meals to Rowan County seniors who have difficulty leaving their homes and/or are challenged to prepare their meals. Volunteers and Staff build relationships, provide referrals, and work to mitigate social isolation.
Our Philosophy
Meals on Wheels Rowan is committed to a philosophy of serving quality food and growing purposefully in participation and service. Our services will be provided for as long as our participant is homebound, in need of nutritious meals, and able to safely age in the place of their choosing.
Statement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Meals on Wheels Rowan is committed to maintaining a culture that recognizes, promotes, respects, and values all people. We embrace the enrichment that diversity of thought, perspective, experience, background, and people bring to our organization. These values enrich our vision of living a nourished life. Our Staff and Board will listen, learn, and leverage our resources to be inclusive and equitable. Our actions and communications will indicate to our volunteers, participants, and community that we are committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Goals for Racial Justice
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We create relationships within our organization that honor humanity and recognize the historical disenfranchisement of many peoples.
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We commit to providing equitable access, resources, and safety to all People who were historically disenfranchised due to systemic racism.
HISTORY
Local History
In 1976, a local volunteer, Jean Anne Ferrier Ramsay, rallied other concerned citizens to discuss hunger relief programs for homebound citizens in Salisbury. The volunteers discovered homebound seniors who could no longer prepare their own meals. These individuals wanted to stay at home but needed help with meals. The volunteers determined that the Meals on Wheels program model enabled participants to remain at home, live independently, and benefit from a nutritious meal and the brief social exchange with delivery volunteers.
Today
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Volunteers deliver between 270 and 300 meals each Monday-Friday.
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Volunteers deliver 27-30 routes that cover 511 square miles across Rowan County.
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Participants are homebound senior citizens or disabled individuals who live in Rowan County.
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Each meal provides 1/3rd of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals for a senior adult.
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The program cost of each meal is $12.80 per meal and includes:
- Direct meal cost- Transportation to volunteer meal pick-up sites
- Site Coordinators, Courier, Meal Coordinator, Care Coordinators, and Program Director
- Participant assessments, registration, and reassessment
- Volunteer recruitment, orientation, and training
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Grocery Volunteers purchase and deliver groceries to 40 clients every other week.
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Over 1000 volunteers devote countless hours a year to offering a friendly greeting, delivering a nutritious meal or groceries, and providing an informal safety check to homebound seniors and the disabled of Rowan County.