The changing face of Meals on Wheels West
Support for those with mobility restrictions of any age.
One of my friends recently recommended Meals on Wheels West to a vibrant woman in Malibu who is ill. “Isn’t Meals on Wheels just for people who are completely home-bound?” was the friend’s initial reaction.
This is a common misperception. In fact, Meals on Wheels West is enthusiastic about assisting anybody in Malibu who has difficulty purchasing and preparing meals for themselves due to age, illness or disability. Meals can be purchased for people of all ages even when a caregiver is in the home and there is a variety of special diet and delivery options available. Meals On Wheels West is quite flexible in serving clients’ needs.
I first became acquainted with Meals on Wheels about 20 years ago when my grandfather was ill. He appreciated not only the food that was brought to him, but also the warmth and friendship of the volunteers who delivered it. Years later, both my father and my mother benefitted from Meals on Wheels deliveries when they suffered illness.
Because of my family’s good experiences, I became a volunteer for Meals on Wheels West in Malibu, and developed friendships I will never forget.
One day I delivered a meal to a client who usually met me at the door. On this day she did not come to the door, but instead called out to me from somewhere in the house to let myself in. When I came inside, I discovered that she was lying on the floor, helpless. She had taken a fall a few hours earlier and, although thankfully she was not injured, she could not get up on her own. After I helped her to her feet, she said “I wasn’t worried, I knew Meals on Wheels would be coming by today.”
Another wonderful client became a good friend.
From time to time I would visit him to watch Lakers games with him. He passed away in his 90s, several years after I first met him. At his funeral I met members of his family, and learned that they were as warm and as engaging as he was.
Meals on Wheels programs provide opportunities to develop friendships for both clients and volunteers, and for many clients, seeing the friendly face of a volunteer on a regular basis is as much of a benefit as the food. But some clients simply want delivery of high quality food rather than new friendships, and Meals on Wheels is a good fit for them as well.
The services of Meals on Wheels West often help seniors to remain independent in their homes. In Malibu, the nutritionally balanced healthy meals are prepared in kitchens located at Pepperdine University. As a member of the Pepperdine community who regularly eats this food, I can attest that it is delicious and prepared with a strong emphasis on good nutrition. Those who can afford it pay a moderate fee for the food ($6 per delivery of two meals), and those with financial challenges receive the food on a sliding scale.
The motto of Meals on Wheels West is “delivering meals one smile at a time.” To contact Meals on Wheels West to arrange delivery, volunteer, or make a donation, please call 310.394.5133 ext. 1, or visit the Meals on Wheels website at mealsonwheelswest.org.
Rick Cupp serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels West, and is the Vice Dean & John W. Wade Professor of Law at Pepperdine Law School.