Information Sheet

Mission:
To provide one well-balanced hot meal a day each weekday to individuals who are unable to prepare meals for themselves and have no one to prepare one hot meal a day for them.

Eligibility:
An individual must be homebound for medical reasons, unable to attend a congregate meal program, and not be receiving a well-balanced hot meal daily.  Individuals who drive minimally but cannot get out on a daily basis to get meals will be scrutinized on a case-by-case eligibility.  If a person can drive and someone requests service that cannot drive, the driving person may have to be taken off so the non-driving person can receive meals.

Impact:
Meals On Wheels deliveries help individuals remain independent in their homes longer, delaying or avoiding alternate living arrangements or nursing care.  Also, temporary service helps recently hospitalized clients meet their nutritional needs during their recovery period.

Meals:
The meals are purchased from CMC-Northeast.  The hospital provided the meals since 1978.  The hospital provided the first 200 meals per day. The menu includes meals for regular and modified diets and rotates on a 15 meal cycle. We had a second caterer who provides the balance of our meals. On July 1, 2009, we began preparing our own meals fresh daily.  Meals are prepared and picked up at a central location.

Cost:
Clients are charged for the meals on a sliding scale according to their ability to pay.  Over 80% of the clients pay less than one-half the cost of the meal.

Funding:
Cabarrus Meals on Wheels, Inc. is funded by client fees, donations, United Way, and grants.