Food Insecurity in Chicago
The Issue
One in 6 seniors is food insecure, and studies have shown that persistent hunger and malnutrition lead to chronic health issues that can result in long-term hospitalization or premature institutionalization.
Rising food prices and changes to social safety net programs are making the problem worse, leaving many seniors without the resources they need to maintain their independence and age with dignity. After paying for fixed costs, most of the seniors we serve only have $47 a week to spend on food, medicine, and personal items.
This is simply not enough.
Our Strategy
By reducing food insecurity with nutritionally balanced meals, our programs offer seniors the tools they need to maintain healthy, self-sufficient, and dignified lives in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.
Our Solutions
These programs include Home Meal Delivery, Nourish Chicago Food Pantry and Pop Up Produce Markets, all of which foster dignity and provide fresh, nutrient-rich groceries and high-quality pantry items to tens of thousands of Chicago’s seniors.
About Meals on Wheels Chicago
Meals on Wheels Chicago envisions a community in which all basic needs are met and barriers to achieving independence are eliminated. We achieve this by raising both funds and awareness to support home meal delivery to eligible senior citizens and people with disabilities and a food pantry for seniors. All of our programs aim to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition, combat social isolation, and promote health and wellbeing.
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Food Insecurity By the Numbers
The issue of food insecurity is about more than just food itself—the ability to put food on the table is the cornerstone to being able to function at home, school and in the world. Hunger affects physical, mental and emotional health, and without secure food sources, it’s difficult to maintain stability. Seniors are at higher risk of facing hunger than the general population. They typically are living on fixed incomes and as people age they face changes to their physical health that makes everyday tasks like grocery shopping or cooking impossible to do alone. As people live longer and retirement savings don’t go as far, more strain is put on social safety net programs to provide the help that seniors need.
Meals on Wheels Chicago Impact
4.7 million meals provided through meal delivery and pantry programs this past year.
5 tons of food distributed at every Nourish Chicago Pantry.
22,000 seniors helped this past year, now reaching twice the number of seniors as we did a year ago.
17,000 meals provided to dogs and cats in the Nourishing Pets Program.
2,882 volunteer hours have been performed, providing services and social connection to seniors.
Thousands of Chicago Seniors Struggle to Access Food
WITH MEALS ON WHEELS CHICAGO, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
The Power of Community
The success of Meals on Wheels Chicago depends on the generosity and partnership of many. We are incredibly grateful to those who support our mission. The expansion of our programs is driven by private philanthropy and in-kind contributions.