Welcome to the Meals on Wheels website! Thank you for your interest in our organization.
We were founded in 1972 by a group of compassionate Albuquerque women who had been studying problems of hunger not only nationwide but right here in their own Albuquerque community. They came across an article discussing a new program in the Midwest that served meals to the homebound called “Meals on Wheels”.
From this spark the women agreed to study the project in depth with the hope of possibly adopting a similar program. And study, work, plan, and fundraise they did! Thus Albuquerque Meals on Wheels became a reality in January, 1972 with meals delivered to 20 clients. Each year we continue to grow and today we prepare and deliver over 140,000 meals annually.
Our services enable those unable to prepare their own meals to have a hot, healthy, well balanced meal delivered to their door Monday through Friday. Often thought of as only serving the elderly, Meals on Wheels serves anyone of any age who needs us. Some of our clients are recovering from surgery and only need our services for a few weeks all the way to Lorraine who at at 104 still lives independently and has been receiving meals from us for 7 years.
Not only do we deliver much needed nutrition but we also deliver a friendly smile to our clients’ door. Our wonderful army of volunteers delivering meals each day grows to know and care for those they meet on their routes. Our clients know that someone each day is checking on them to make sure that not only are their dietary needs being met but that they are safe and healthy and not in medical distress.
Hunger is a critical issue not only in Albuquerque but nationwide and so we are grateful for any assistance we receive whether it’s a gift of financial support (we receive no federal or state funding) or the gift of volunteer time. These gifts ensure that we can continue our mission of “nourishing bodies and spirits of the homebound with balanced meals and friendship”.
Thank you again for your interest in our organization.
Samantha Blauwkamp
Executive Director |
