SERVING THE HIGH DESERT COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 35 YEARS
SERVING THE HIGH DESERT COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 35 YEARS
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History of Meals on WheelsThe Meals on Wheels programs in the United States trace their roots back to Great Britain during WWII(1939). The Women's Volunteer Service for Civil Defense responded to the German bombing of English soil and the loss of homes, by preparing and delivering meals to their disadvantaged neighbors. These women also brought refreshments in canteens to servicemen. The canteens became known as "meals on wheels." Thus, the first organized nutrition program was born. Following the war, the U.S. embarked on it's own experimental meal program. What began as a single small program serving seven seniors has grown into hundreds of local home-delivered and congregate meal programs that serve millions of elderly, disabled, or at-risk persons across the country. The first home delivered meal program began in Philadelphia in January of 1954. Margaret Toy, a social worker in Philadelphia's Lighthouse Community Center pioneered a program to provide nourishment that met the dietary needs of homebound seniors and other shut-ins in the area who would otherwise go hungry. As in the case today, many participants were people who did not require hospitalization, but who simply needed a helping hand to maintain their independence. Most of the volunteers were high school students who were dubbed "platter angels." They would prepare, package, and deliver meals to elderly and disabled throughout their communities.
Our MissionThe primary purpose of Hi Desert Meals On Wheels is to improve nutrition, mental, and physical well-being of the elderly who are confined to their place of residence and to serve the elderly who are able to leave their place of residence in a dinning room setting to enable them to meet and socialize.
Historical ProfileHi Desert Meals on Wheels was incorporated in 1971 as a volunteer organization to deliver meals to the elderly who are unable to prepare meals for themselves due to age, illness, accidents, etc. Meals on Wheels is now a two-part program with the first part consisting of meal delivery service to seniors 60 and over in twelve communities throughout the High Desert. Meals are also served in a dining room setting to seniors 60 years of age and older who are able to leave their place of residence to enable them to meet and socialize with others their own age. Meals are served Monday through Friday at three nutrition sites in the High Desert. The meals are nutritionally sound and approved by a contracted nutritionist as well as the Registered Dietician for the County of San Bernardino. SENIORS WE NEED YOUR HELP!-CLICK HERE Please Sign our guest book. Click here. SEE THE HESPERIA PHOTOS! CLICK HERE Our Menu is now online-Click here
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