The nonprofit provides human connection and nourishment for hundreds of homebound Durham residents
By Anna-Rhesa Versola | Photography courtesy of Meels on Wheels Durham
Durham Magazine presents its second Social Impact Award to Meals on Wheels Durham, recognizing its dedicated staff and many volunteers who provide human connection and nourishment for hundreds of homebound Durham residents. “With a growing elderly population, rising costs for food and elder care, the needs for MOW Durham have never been greater,” says Ellen Shannon, president of Durham Magazine parent company Triangle Media Partners. “They’ve built an incredible group of partners and volunteers. MOW Durham is serving more people and providing more services than ever before. This is why we’ve awarded them our 2024 Social Impact Award for Durham County.”
“Our motto is ‘more than a meal,’” says Nia Richardson, MOW Durham’s communications and special events coordinator. “We are not only providing food that nourishes the body, but we provide daily connections that nourish the soul.”
MOW Durham has about 10 staff members and more than 300 volunteers who deliver prepared meals to 550 homebound clients, mostly older adults. In some cases, younger clients with physical or developmental limitations also enlist in meal-delivery services. The nonprofit partners with local veterinary clinics – like Falconbridge Animal Hospital, Eno Animal Hospital, Carver Street Animal Hospital, North Paw Animal Hospital, Willow Oak Veterinary Hospital and Broadway Veterinary Hospital – and pet shops including Unleashed, the Dog & Cat Store to collect donations of dog and cat food, providing about 100 pets of homebound older adults with meals as well.
Generous donations – like the $750,000 gift received in December 2020 from author and humanitarian MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic foundation, Yield Giving – made it possible for MOW Durham to lease a commissary kitchen on Foster Street and sign agreements with Trio Community Meals last fall, allowing the nonprofit to prepare in-house meals for the first time since its founding in 1975.
“Since then, we’ve accomplished remarkable milestones,” Nia says in regard to the donation. “This support allowed us to remove approximately 100 seniors from our waitlist, providing them with weekday meals for a year during the pandemic.”
Nia says the nonprofit strives to improve meal options and hopes to offer medically tailored meals. “In addition to preparing meals for our clients, our commissary kitchen offers catering and other food services to the community,” Nia says. “Revenue generated from these services will support our mission of providing meals to those in need. Proceeds will be reinvested to enhance our programs and feed even more people.”
Remaining funds from the donation have been set aside to secure a new building in the future, she says.
There are currently 511 people on Meals on Wheels Durham’s waitlist, representing a 93% increase since last year. “This surge is largely due to the discontinuation of enhanced SNAP benefits in March 2023, which previously provided additional funds for groceries,” Nia Richardson explains. “Coupled with rising food prices and fixed incomes, many seniors are now facing greater difficulties in accessing the benefits they once relied on.
MOW Durham’s “more than a meal” motto extends to volunteers making wellness calls on Wednesdays and Fridays to check in with clients by phone, a program that was established during the pandemic. The organization also partnered with Vaccine Ambassadors to facilitate and administer at-home vaccinations; it’s currently exploring the possibility of partnering with the program again to offer at-home vaccinations for the upcoming year. Additionally, volunteers deliver boxed fans to clients who don’t have functioning air conditioning, and younger volunteers without driver’s licenses write birthday or holiday cards. “So it’s not just the meals we serve; it’s the auxiliary items and services and help from around the community that really help enhance what we provide to our clients to make them feel more vital and seen and connected,” Nia says.
“There are myriad reasons why people would need our services, but we just want people to know that our clients are like everyone else; they love laughing, and some of them love to be on social media,” she says. “They love having conversations. A lot of them love watching TV. Obviously, we are in a sports mecca – that’s always a hot topic. We’re all connected. When you meet someone, you might have a different background or be a different age, but you can connect with them and make them feel special and valued.”
Another way to help is to donate funds to sustain and grow the services that the nonprofit provides. Meals on Wheels Durham marks its 50th anniversary next year. “That’s really special for us,” Nia says, adding that the organization is already planning its sixth annual Feed the Need fundraising gala on Feb. 15, 2025, at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. “Not only have we been in the community for 50 years, but it’s a great celebration to honor those who’ve supported us through donations and partnering and volunteering.”
“Next year’s gala will be extra special,” says MOW Durham Executive Director Jason Peace. “We’d love to have the largest community turnout yet to help us recognize and celebrate what we’ve achieved together over the past five decades.”
Tickets will be released on MOW Durham’s website in December 2024, and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
