Meals on Wheels of Long Beach . . . Nourishes, Comforts and Protects the most vulnerable of Long Beach’s citizens.

Elderly households are much less likely to receive help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) than non-elderly households, even when expected benefits are roughly the same. Seniors require greater consideration towards their health and medical needs that can become compromised when there is not enough food to eat.

A study which examined the health and nutritional status of seniors found that food insecure seniors had significantly lower intakes of vital nutrients in their diets when compared to their food secure counterparts.

For seniors, protecting oneself from food insecurity and hunger is more difficult than for the general population.

• MOW overview:
Meals on Wheels of Long Beach began as a pilot program and service project of Soroptimist International of Long Beach, a volunteer service organization for women in business, management, and the professions.

After many months of research and preparation, on March 1, 1971, Meals on Wheels of Long Beach opened its doors in downtown Long Beach with just ten clients. In l972 MOWLB incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-government funded, community service agency. The need for home delivered meals was apparent. The program grew rapidly and soon expanded into three more church sites in the east, north and northwest sections of the city. Currently Meals on Wheels of Long Beach serves approximately 300 homebound clients a hot and cold meal five days a week.

• WE Nourish
MOWLB delivers 2 nutritionally balanced meals every weekday to clients who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Without these meals many would suffer from a lack of a proper diet and be forced to move from their homes to costly nursing facilities.

• WE Comfort
MOWLB “Friendly Visitor” volunteers, personally deliver the meals to folks who may not have any other social contact throughout the day. Over time, many special relationships develop and the smiles and love that accompany every meal are as life giving as the meal itself.

• WE Protect
MOWLB, as a member of the Elder Abuse Prevention Team, trains all of our “Friendly Visitors” to recognize signs of Elder Abuse & Neglect and acts promptly to insure the protection and safety of all our clients.

Meals on Wheels of Long Beach, one of the oldest senior and homebound nutrition and advocacy programs in the area has stood the test of time. For over 40 years, MOWs has served the community...

Government assistance programs and senior health plans that have traditionally helped pay for home delivered meals, have either cut these benefits or eliminated them altogether.

These most vulnerable citizens need your help!!

MOWLB needs your help to continue to reach as many of the homebound hungry & vulnerable people in our community as possible.

You can help by making a donation or volunteering a little of your time at one of our Long Beach site locations.

Thank you for helping us help these beautiful people and making Long Beach “The Best City to Live in for a Lifetime”.