Meals on Wheels West serves Los Angeles County’s coastal communities with home-delivered meals and social support
By Homaira Shifa / Special to The Malibu Times
“Loneliness is as terrible as hunger” is their motto; a charitable organization providing a social need is their work. Meals on Wheels West has been serving home-delivered meals and social support to anyone in need since 1974.
“We are a nonprofit providing a social service,” said Kevin McNulty, associate executive director for Meals on Wheels West. “Ninety percent of what we do is build bonds and relationships.”
Their vision is to eliminate hunger and isolation and foster independence. Anyone, regardless of age, who is homebound and cannot provide for themselves qualifies to receive assistance. Anyone who is experiencing a short-term or permanent illness or disability and is homebound also qualifies for assistance.
Speaking at a luncheon at Malibu City Hall on Saturday, McNulty recalled their youngest client, a young man in his twenties who was quadriplegic from a car accident. The young man was brought home from the hospital and received in-home therapy along with visits from Meals On Wheels. His mother was so thrilled to have her son back home.
“We’re that safety net to extend their dignity,” McNulty said. “We’re promoting independent living and are all about quality of life.”
Another client was a young woman in her thirties who was left paralyzed from a car accident. McNulty and other Meals on Wheels workers began dropping by her home to deliver meals, and over time a true friendship was born.
“I’m getting goose bumps just talking about her,” he said. “She was like my little baby sister.”
The woman progressed to an electric wheel chair as the months wore on. But, eventually her body succumbed to her injuries and she passed away. Still, an ending that would seem to hold only sadness had a silver lining.
“Her brother called us after she passed away and thanked us for being a part of her life,” McNulty said.
The Meals On Wheels Association of America is the oldest and largest national organization composed of and representing local, community-based Senior Nutrition Programs in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the U.S. territories.
There are some 5,000 local Senior Nutrition Programs in the United States. These programs provide well over one million meals to seniors who need them each day. Some programs serve meals at congregate locations like senior centers, some programs deliver meals directly to the homes of seniors whose mobility is limited and many programs provide both services.
However, Meals on Wheels is not a franchise and each Meals on Wheels is independent of each other. The fact that they are independent allows them to help individuals of all ages.
Meals on Wheels West is not government funded and relies primarily on donations. They do grant writing and occasionally receive city and county grants, but it is not a government-funded program.
Pepperdine University supplies the meals for Malibu, although paid for by Meals on Wheels. For $8 a day, anyone in Malibu can receive a nutritious meal and a daily visit. A typical meal includes an entr/e, salad, vegetables, milk and juice.
In the last fiscal year, Meals on Wheels West helped 338 people. They have a base of about 300 volunteers with 40 going out every day to delivers the meals. Each day of the week, a different group of 40 volunteers deliver the meals.
Many times the postman and the Meals on Wheels volunteer are the only two people that clients see on a daily basis, McNulty said. They just need someone to talk to.
“We are that last stop gap between independent living and a nursing facility,” McNulty said.
“It’s not just for old people, maybe you’re just worried about your neighbor,” Theresa Odello, recreation coordinator for the Malibu Senior Center, said.
McNulty and Odello spoke to a group of about 20 people gathered at the Malibu Senior Center for their monthly luncheon, which is held on the third Thursday of every month.
The Malibu Senior Center is located in Malibu City Hall and is open to residents ages 55 and up. Activities include classes offered through the Santa Monica College Emeritus Program, exercise and craft classes, monthly luncheons and other social gatherings.
Visit www.mealsonwheelswest.org to learn more about Meals on Wheels West.