Des Moines Area Mayors Raise Awareness for Meals On Wheels

Hunger is a growing problem across the United States among older adults. On March 24, local mayors from Greater Des Moines joined with other elected officials from across the country to deliver meals to older adults through an initiative called Mayors for Meals.

Through Mayors for Meals, leaders generate awareness for the local Meals on Wheels program and its valuable role in the community. Mayors from Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Elkhart, Grimes, Polk City, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights participated by joining the Meals on Wheels routes in their communities for the day.

Mayors for Meals is sponsored by the National Meals on Wheels Association of America, which represents senior nutrition programs across the country. Last year, a total of 1,552 mayors from the United States and Canada delivered meals.

In Greater Des Moines, the nonprofit organization WesleyLife provides Meals on Wheels as one of its community-based services. Each week, WesleyLife Meals on Wheels delivers about 5,000 nutritious meals to older adults in need across Polk County, making it the largest program of its kind in the state. Meals on Wheels promotes the well-being and independence of older adults by providing a daily meal and friendly smile. Many older adult are able to remain in their homes through the help of this service.

Demand for home-delivered meals is growing at a rate of 9 percent each year, and WesleyLife Meals on Wheels program is working hard to continue providing this essential support service. The challenge to provide Meals on Wheels for the many people who could benefit from the service is certainly not unique to Des Moines. Older adults across the country are struggling because they can no longer cook for themselves or they can’t travel to the stores for food. According to the MOWAA, more than 6 million older adults in the United States face the risk of hunger. 

About WesleyLife
WesleyLife (formerly Wesley Retirement Services Inc.) is a nonprofit organization with a Christian mission to support the independence, health and well-being of older adults, wherever they call home. WesleyLife operates six continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) throughout Iowa (Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Halcyon House in Washington, Heritage House in Atlantic, Park Centre in Newton, The Village in Indianola, and Wesley’s newest community, Edgewater in West Des Moines).  In addition, WesleyLife serves older Iowans at home and throughout the community with WesleyLife home and community services (Adult day centers in Des Moines and Newton; home care and health services in Des Moines, Ames, Indianola and Atlantic; Meals On Wheels in Des Moines and hospice and palliative care in Des Moines, Ames and Indianola). For more information about WesleyLife please visit the Web site at www.wesleylife.org