Each March, Meals on Wheels (MOW) programs come together to celebrate the anniversary of President Richard Nixon signing the Older Americans Act of 1965 into law. This act established a national nutrient program for seniors 60 years and older, commonly referred to as Meals on Wheels.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) has been a long-standing partner of Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas (MOW) for over 28 years. BCBSKS partners with MOW in a variety of ways each year including:

• BCBSKS employees volunteer on two Topeka meal routes delivering hot, nutritious meals and safety checks to MOW clients.
• The company sponsors MOW annual fundraising events.
• BCBSKS employees support and attend annual fundraising events, such as Sumptuous Evening.

BCBSKS volunteers play a vital role in fulfilling the more than 80 daily meal delivery routes each weekday. In 2018, BCBSKS was awarded the Corporate Citizen’s Award for their many years of service to our community through volunteering (pictured above).

MOW serves hot meals Monday through Friday in Shawnee, Jefferson and Douglas counties. Congregate sites are also located in all three counties for those seniors who are not homebound. These sites provide seniors the opportunity to socialize with friends and neighbors and enjoy a nutritious lunch. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, congregate sites are currently closed for in-person dining.

MOW delivers so much more than just a meal. Many MOW clients have no family that live close so if they don’t hear from MOW about a concern, they can rest assured their loved one is doing well. Often, the MOW volunteer is the only human interaction the clients receive during the day and this helps with their mental health and lets them know that someone really does care about them. Frequent home visits provide unique opportunities to meet nutritional needs, combat social isolation, address safety hazards and provide holistic care.

To learn more about Meals on Wheels visit http://www.mowks.org.