Meals on Wheels Western Michigan currently delivers over 600,000 meals annually across Kent and Allegan counties – a lifeline keeping older adults healthy, fed and socially connected.
But demand is rising fast, says Dave Gilman, Director of Advancement.
“The Michigan State demographer is telling us that there will be 40- to 50,000 more people in that demographic group in the next 20 years.”
To prepare, the nonprofit is now amid a $4 million complete kitchen overhaul to dramatically boost capacity, increasing menu and nutritional options as well.
“We had consultants involved in the process, recommending the best tools, best products, for us to be able to improve and continue to grow our efficiency, grow our capacity, so that we can go from around 700,000 meals this year to - it could be 850- to 1 million meals in a couple of years down the road.”
A $2 million state grant jump-started construction and the “Nourish the Future” community campaign is now raising the remaining funds to finish debt-free.
Learn more on the Meals on Wheels Western Michigan website.
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