Meals On Wheels

Meals on Wheels, a nationally known meal delivery service to homebound community members. We want to make sure that everyone who is homebound still receives not only a hot, nutritious meal, but a well-check and social visit every day.

Meals On Wheels

Meals on Wheels Menu

Become a Volunteer

Midland Care Meals on Wheels

Contact Meals on Wheels: Phone: 785-430-2186 | Fax: 888-453-1532 | mow@midlandcc.org | 2134 SW Westport Drive, Topeka, KS 66614

Midland Care Meals on Wheels serves older adults and homebound in Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties.

Hot, nutritious meals delivered daily can assist people in:

Remaining independent in their homes
Avoiding hospitalizations
Managing chronic health issues, including special diets necessary for diabetes, heart-related, renal, and swallowing complications
Ensuring their safety at the same time of meal delivery

Safety Check:
Volunteers who deliver meals play a vital role by reporting any health and environmental changes or crises they may have observed during their visits. This includes participants who did not answer their door and changes in behavior and/or surroundings. Reported and suspected issues will be immediately addressed to carry out the next steps as previously outlined by participants or their caregivers. Meals on Wheels staff establish a baseline of function and environment at the initial home visit and annually thereafter.

Eligibility:

Person 60 years of age or older who is Homebound(difficulty leaving the home unassisted)
Person 60 years of age or older who is Isolated
Person 60 years of age or older who is a Caretaker, as long as it is in the participant’s best interest
Spouse of an Eligible Participant as long as it is in the participant’s best interest
Registered congregate meal participant who needs a home-delivered meal(s) due to an illness or health condition

We would love to have a conversation with you about receiving meals, to see if you qualify please call 785-430-2186.

History of Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas – History

Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas, Inc. was founded in 1972 as Mobile Meals of Topeka, Inc. The Junior League was instrumental in establishing the organization. The program was started at the request of The Community Resources Council with input from The American Red Cross, Church Women United, The Menninger Foundation, Shawnee County Health Department, and Medical Society of Topeka. The organization is currently governed by a 16 member Board of Directors.

Over the years, Meals on Wheels has had many partnership to allow for meal preparation and delivery. In 2019, Meals on Wheels became a program of Midland Care and moved into it's first permanent location at the Compass Center for Senior Independence in Topeka. In addition, Meals on Wheels and Lawrence Meals on Wheels joined in a collaboration to work together to serve those in Lawrence and Douglas County.

Currently, Meals on Wheels serves Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties to help ensure older adults have access to nutritious meals and safety checks.

Funding Sources

Home Delivered Meals

The meals, plus daily contact by caring volunteers, allow homebound individuals to remain independent in their homes.

Hot, nutritious meals delivered daily can assist people in:

Remaining independent in their homes
Avoiding hospitalizations
Managing chronic health issues, including special diets necessary for diabetes, heart related, renal, and swallowing complications
Ensuring their safety at the same time of meal delivery

Safety Check:
Volunteers who deliver meals play a vital role by reporting to Meals on Wheels any health and environmental changes or crises they may have observed during their visits. This includes participants that did not answer their door and changes in behavior and/or surroundings. Reported and suspected issues will be immediately addressed by Meals on Wheels staff to carry-out next steps as previously outlined by participants or their caregivers. Meals on Wheels staff establish a baseline of function and environment at the initial home visit and annually thereafter.

Fee:
Participants over the age of 60 pay a reduced rate of $4.25 per meal, while those under 60 pay a reduced rate of $5.75 per meal (payment in advance is required by ACH form). If participants are over 60 years old and classified as homebound by their physician, we may utilize the Older Americans Act fund to cover their meal costs. In such cases, we simply request a donation from them through our donation program. Donations may be made using cash, check, credit card, or Vision Card.

Eligibility:

Person 60 years of age or older who is Homebound(difficulty leaving the home unassisted)
Person 60 years of age or older who is Isolated
Person 60 years of age or older who is a Caretaker, as long as it is in the participant’s best interest
Spouse of an Eligible Participant as long as it is in the participant’s best interest
Disabled or Dependent Individual who resides in a non-institutional setting with an eligible participant and it is in the participant’s best interest
Registered congregate meal participant who needs a home-delivered meal(s) due to an illness or health condition

Target Population:
Nutrition services are targeted to people 60 years of age or older in greatest social and economic need, particularly low-income minorities. An additional target criterion of the home delivered meals program is that program resources are targeted to those most in need of meals and at greatest nutritional risk.

Special Diets:
Hot nutritious meals are delivered daily and can assist people in: remaining independent in their homes, avoiding hospitalizations, and managing chronic health issues. We provide special diets for individuals with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders and those who have trouble chewing or swallowing.

Referral Form

Dining Centers

Congregate Dining Centers:
Individuals over the age of 60 may reserve a meal at one of the dining centers. Noon meals are served Monday through Friday at dining centers throughout Shawnee, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. In addition to a well-balanced and nutritious meal, individuals will receive nutrition education and may enjoy the opportunity to socialize and make new friends as well as participate in other activities.

Fee:
Donations are encouraged and much appreciated; however, there is no established fee. Donations may be made using cash, check, or Vision Card.

Eligibility:

Person 60 years of age or older and their spouse of that person regardless of his or her age;
Individuals less than 60 years of age who provide volunteer services during meal hours, as long as his or her meal will not deprive an eligible participant of a meal;
Non-elderly disabled person who resides in a housing facility occupied primarily by individuals 60 years of age or older where congregate nutrition services are provided;
Non-elderly disabled person who resides in a home with and accompanies an individual 60 years of age or older.

DINING CENTER LOCATIONS

UPR FORM

Menu Requirements

Menu Development and Nutritional Requirements

The Meals on Wheels Dietitian must certify in writing documentation of nutritional adequacy which includes the following:

A target of 800 mg. of sodium per meal will be provided with a maximum of 1000 mg. of sodium provided on a weekly average per meal;
A minimum of 625 calories per meal will be provided with a weekly target goal of 750-850 per meal based on a weekly average;
Thirty-percent (30%) or less as fat will be provided per meal based on a weekly average.
A minimum of one-third (1/3) of the RDA per meal daily for Vitamin C, protein, calcium, and thiamin;
A minimum of one-third (1/3) of the RDA will be provided per meal based on weekly averages for Vitamin A and iron.
The menu must consider the special needs of older adults and incorporate input solicited from older adults including their food preferences and needs;
The meals must comply with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which includes the Food Guide Pyramid, as published by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture;
The meals must provide a minimum of the current recommended dietary allowances (RDAs), which are established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.
Meals on Wheels must utilize standardized recipes at each of its production facilities that prepare certified menus. Standardized recipes are required to ensure an accurate and valid nutrient analysis.

For more information or to begin receiving Meals on Wheels call 785-430-2186.

Volunteer for Meals on Wheels

Volunteer Information:
Volunteer your time as a Meal Delivery Driver that is needed Monday through Friday as an “on call substitute” or a “permanent route driver”. There are six (6) meal pick-up locations throughout Topeka and two (2) pick up sites in Lawrence for the convenience of our clients and volunteers:

Meals on Wheels – 2134 SW Westport Dr.
Midland Care Center for Hope and Healing – 1112 SW 6th Ave – Back of Building
Papan’s Landing Senior Center – 619 NW Paramore St.
Lulac Senior Center – 1502 NE Seward Ave.
Highland Park United Methodist Church – 2914 SE Michigan Ave.
East Topeka Senior Center – 432 SE Norwood St.
Midland Care – 319 Perry St. – Lawrence, KS 66044
Theatre Lawrence – 4660 Bauer Farm Dr. – Lawrence KS 66049

Meal delivery bags are picked up between 10:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Routes take up to an hour to deliver to an average of 10-15 clients per route. Flexibility in scheduling is available to all volunteers to include: corporate volunteers, retired volunteers, families, students, etc..

Substitute Drivers
Meals on Wheels is always in need of qualified volunteers who are willing to substitute for absent full-time volunteers. Substitutes can stipulate what days they are available to work as well as the areas of delivery that work best for them.

Meals on Wheels Staff

Kerri Mosinski – Chief Administrative Officer for Midland Care
Kim Williams – Meals on Wheels Director
Shelby Kingsley – Program Assessor
Amy Barter – Volunteer Coordinator
Joanna Powell – Program Assistant
Lyndsey Williams, Program Assistant II
Sarah Carnahan – Program Assessor
Dawn Ross – MOW Service Delivery Assistant
Emily Degenhardt – MOW Resource Specialist
Roberta Stauffer – Nutrition Services Administrative Assistant