BY Valerie Macon
It starts with a knock at the door and the warmth of a familiar smile. For thousands of seniors across Wake County, that moment means more than a hot meal — it’s a lifeline of care and connection. Meals on Wheels ensures no senior goes hungry or feels alone, a mission that depends on volunteers and is sustained by donors. This program thrives because of community commitment. To see how it all comes together, I spoke with Sara Walker, director of development and communications; MaryAnne McAdams, board member; Bryan Hayes, Fuquay-Varina town commissioner and executive director of Pine Acres Community Center; and longtime volunteers John and Dixie, whose stories reveal the heart behind the mission.
Meals on Wheels of Wake County has been serving the community for more than 50 years. It began humbly in the basement of a church, where local women gathered to feed their neighbors. What started with fewer than 20 meals has grown into the largest Meals on Wheels program in North Carolina.
Today, meals are prepared in a commercial kitchen and delivered to 11 distribution sites across the county where volunteers then deliver them to seniors. Each weekday, 1,448 meals are served across Wake County. Most meals (80%) are delivered straight to people’s homes. The rest (20%) are served at 10 Friendship Cafes located in community centers, senior centers and churches.
Over the past year, volunteers delivered 322,919 meals across 109 daily routes in Wake County. No one is left out because of where they live. In rural areas, seniors receive five frozen meals at once, delivered by part-time staff drivers, providing food for the week. Altogether, an estimated 507,620 miles were driven to make sure everyone was fed.
Pine Acres Community Center (402 McLean Street in Fuquay-Varina) and White Oak Foundation (1624 White Oak Church Road in Apex) are two local Meals on Wheels distribution hubs serving clients either through home delivery or through Friendship Cafes.
Friendship Cafes are meal sites that provide lunch and much more. Guests typically arrive around 10 a.m. to enjoy coffee and a snack before participating in an hour or two of programs. A speaker might present topics of interest to seniors, or a volunteer may lead chair yoga or other exercise classes. Bingo is a favorite activity at all the cafes, and, at some locations, local florists donate flowers so the winners can take home a bouquet. After these programs, seniors receive a hot lunch.
Beyond these activities, Friendship Cafes are a welcoming place for people to gather and build community. “The point is that our community, especially after COVID, needs less isolation,” explains Sara. “We need places where people can come together, where folks can congregate over food. Every study shows that people have better outcomes when they’re not isolated, when they have good nutrition, and when they see other people.”
She continues, “When somebody has a baby or someone is sick, you deliver them a hot meal. That’s the old-school way — you take care of your neighbor. You don’t bring them a bag of groceries. Not that that isn’t important. But what Meals on Wheels does is prepare a meal that’s ready to eat, because many of our clients can’t cook anymore. They may not be able to drive, so it’s necessary to provide them with a meal that’s warm, ready to go, and easy to enjoy.” MaryAnne adds, “And it allows them to stay in their homes longer, because they have that.”
Fuquay-Varina Town Commissioner Brian Haynes has served as executive director of the Pine Acres Community Center since January 2020. He notes that Pine Acres has long been a cornerstone of community service, particularly as a regional hub for Meals on Wheels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Meals on Wheels expanded to serve about 1,000 meals daily across Southern Wake County. Today, the center continues to open its doors free of charge for a wide range of community uses, including being a Friendship Cafe site.
The Importance of Volunteers
John & Dixie’s Story
What makes Meals on Wheels of Wake County unique is that it is powered almost entirely by volunteers whose dedication supports both nourishment and connection in the community. At the heart of its mission is ensuring that no senior goes hungry or feels isolated, and volunteers play a vital role by delivering hot meals while monitoring their neighbors’ well-being.
Ten years ago, John and Dixie saw a Meals on Wheels ad asking for volunteers, and they answered the call. Since then, they have been happily delivering meals to seniors each week. Typically, they serve eight clients a week, but on the day we spoke, they were excited to add three new folks, and they were looking forward to meeting them.
They deliver one day a week to the same clients, building relationships over time. Along with meals, they check up on them, ask what’s needed, and sometimes bring their trash cans back from the curb. They are an invaluable point of contact for the seniors they serve. On one occasion, when a client didn’t answer the door, John and Dixie discovered she had fallen, and they were able to call for help in a timely manner.
“We always try to make sure that everything’s well with them,” Dixie says. “Once we deliver the food, they’re pretty happy. One lady has cats and we deliver cat food for them too.” Thanks to a partnership between Meals on Wheels and the SPCA, seniors receive donated pet food so they can keep their beloved companions — an essential part of their emotional well-being.
John also enjoys chatting about sports with a couple of clients who share his favorite team. For both John and Dixie, the most meaningful part of their volunteer experience is talking to the people, the back-and-forth banter, and just checking on their neighbors. It’s a way to be a little highlight in someone’s day.
Volunteers can serve weekly, monthly, or as often as they choose, but they are encouraged to select a consistent route so that seniors see a familiar face. This consistency not only builds trust and friendships but also allows volunteers to notice changes over time and quickly report concerns through an app that connects to the home office, which can then reach emergency services or a senior’s contact.
Funding
Mary Anne reports that it takes $2,400 to feed a senior five days a week for a year. Meals on Wheels funding comes through individual donors, local businesses, corporate donations and partnerships, as well as federal funding. Their goal is to grow through philanthropy in order to make needed enhancements to the program. By going to their website, wakemow.org, you can sign up to donate either a one-time gift or monthly recurring gifts.
How do Seniors Connect with Meals on Wheels?
For home-delivery, anyone over 60 can receive meals—if they have reduced activities of daily living. There is no income screening. Seniors in need of a meal can either go to wakemow.org and fill out an application or call 919 833-1949 for assistance from an outreach team member.
At Friendship Cafes, anyone 60 or older can receive a meal, but they need to let the site manager know a day ahead that they plan on coming.
Meals on Wheels of Wake County shows what’s possible when neighbors work together with commitment. To keep this lifeline strong, the program depends on community support. Whether giving your time or donating funds, you can help ensure that no senior in Wake County is left hungry or alone. To be part of the mission, visit their website: wakemow.org.
