MISSION

To nourish the wellness, purpose and dignity of older adults and their families in our community

VISION

A world that honors people throughout life

A MESSAGE FROM MEALS ON WHEELS ORANGE COUNTY

As we conclude a year like no other, we reflect with gratitude.

We are thankful for our staff, volunteers, community partners and friends and donors like you, who showed resourcefulness, determination and compassion in the face of the unknown. When the senior centers where we provide hot meals and friendly connections through our Lunch Cafés closed in March, we were overwhelmed with calls from older adults who were filled with fear about how and where they would get food. We also received calls from folks who didn’t know about us until the pandemic, but who needed us more than ever.

Letting them go hungry was not an option.

In two days, our teams massively transformed our extensive kitchen operations to safely serve frightened older adults with Grab & Go meals that they could eat in the comfort of their homes. Additionally, demand for our traditional home-delivered meals where a breakfast, lunch, and dinner five days a week are delivered to homebound older adults also rocketed.

In less than a few weeks, we went from serving 15,000 to a mind-boggling 44,000 meals a week!

We needed the community to step up. You did that and more to surpass anything we could have imagined.

For all of this, we are grateful.

The need, however, has remained high. Even when the county’s COVID numbers decreased, the demand was constant. Now, with the coronavirus once again surging through our community, we are working to stabilize our food resource pipelines, adhering to stringent health and safety protocols, and serving thousands more seniors who need meals, and hope.

We are thankful for your support in helping Meals on Wheels OC nourish our at-risk elderly neighbors during these trying and uncertain times. Because of you, we can continue to respond to the constant need of our county’s most vulnerable residents during what is shaping up to be another year filled with uncertainty for the most at risk among us. Through it all, we’ll keep finding ways to serve meals, kindness, love and hope to those who spent their lives doing the same for their families.

Yours in Gratitude,

Holly Hagler and Earle Zucht.

Holly Hagler
CEO
Earle Zucht
Board Chair
By The Numbers
FY2020 IMPACT

2019: SERVED
10,000
People

BY JUNE 2020: SERVED 15,000

2019, SERVED
15,000
Meals per Week

BY JUNE 2020, SERVED
45,000
in One Week

Meals On Wheels OC’s 2020 strategic plan outlined a target to serve 15,000 people per year by 2025 – because of COVID-19 we exceeded this target by mid 2020.

COVID-19 Response
OUR COMMUNITY STEPS UP TO THE PLATE

When COVID-related shutdowns began in March, our teams worked nonstop to change our operations almost overnight. We were overwhelmed at the scale of what had to be accomplished to keep feeding our elderly neighbors as the number escalated week after week. Thankfully, we were approached by nearly sixteen hundred people wanting to give back by volunteering and supported by the county and our 20 city partners ready to provide support and staff to make it all work. THANK YOU.

GRATEFUL TO SERVE
Meals on Wheels OC’s nutritious meals, friendly visits, safety checks and Adult Day Services enable older adults to enjoy hot meals together, maintain wellness, and stay connected. Although we cannot safely gather during COVID-19, we are helping to ease stress and worry until we can sit down together for a meal or visit once again.
“I’m just really glad that Meals on Wheels OC is out there for people like me It’s just mind boggling when you stop to think, they care, they are just the greatest people and they are doing this for me! It’s unreal!“ – Thelma
“I am 76 years old and have asthma. I am isolated because of this COVID-19. Your program is a godsend. I couldn’t make it without people like you!” – Anonymous
“No one was prepared for this to happen, but Meals on Wheels OC has been a blessing. Without them, we just don’t know how we’d survive.” – Wahida
“Without Meals on Wheels OC, the fear about how I’m going to eat or when I’m going to eat would be there. And I do not have that because of them. What a gift.” – Jack
“Meals on Wheels OC is a Godsend – if their service wasn’t around, I don’t know what I would do.” – Elizabeth, Family Caregiver

“WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE COUNTING ON US. HOW CAN WE LET OUR MOST VULNERABLE DOWN IN THEIR GREATEST HOUR OF NEED?”

– Holly Hagler, President & CEO,
Meals on Wheels Orange County

The Well-Being of Seniors Affects Us All

  • Half of all diseases in older Americans is due to lack of nutrition
  • 1 in 4 low-income older adults in Orange County struggles with hunger
  • The health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day

The Necessity of Meals on Wheels Orange County

  • Friendly volunteer drivers conduct regular safety checks on over 1200 homebound older adults annually
  • 590,000+ meals are personally delivered each year by caring drivers to homebound older adults
  • Meals are nutritious, heart-healthy and diabetic friendly

The Dramatic Impact of Meals on Wheels OC

  • 59 percent of Lunch Café participants say their health is improved through the organization’s services
  • 68 percent of Lunch Café participants say they have an improved quality of life
  • 62 percent of Meals On Wheels OC participants experienced a reduction in the length of hospital stays
  • 92 percent of Meals On Wheels OC participants say it lets them remain living at home
  • 87 percent of Meals On Wheels OC participants say it makes them feel more secure
Meals are developed by a registered dietician to provide balanced nutrition and alleviate hunger
Operations
LEVEL HEADS AND HEARTS ALWAYS PREVAIL

The arrival of COVID-19 forced us to respond rapidly in order to continue serving our community’s most vulnerable. When senior centers closed with the March 13 stay-at-home order, we massively transformed our operations and ramped up volume. Where we previously served 1,000 hot meals a day in partner senior centers, we shifted to making and freezing fresh 5,000 meals a day for safely-distanced Grab & Go pickup. And where friendly drivers would normally visit with homebound seniors as they delivered an entire days’ worth of meals, we quickly implemented safety practices for contactless delivery, all while serving 25% more older adults who suddenly needed home-delivered meals.

In a controlled flurry, we began sourcing additional food and putting menus together while adjusting operations to adhere to COVID-19 safety and hygiene protocols. We also added a production line, expanded freezer space at our community kitchen and distribution center, to meet the growing demand for meal distribution at Grab & Go locations.

We couldn’t have asked for a more urgent, yet measured response from our community!

2021 Outlook
PLANNING FULL FUTURES FOR SENIORS

Looking ahead, we are preparing for an equally challenging 2021 as the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19 will linger long after the virus is defeated. The number of at-risk older adults in need of food and social connections will continue to grow. Adults aged 65 or older are the fastest growing age group in Orange County. By 2040, almost one in four people in the county will be over the age of 65*.

As a result of the pandemic, many more food-insecure seniors have connected with us than ever before. Once revealed, hidden hunger cannot be ignored. The number of people we are now serving is unprecedented, and with the community’s help – with your help– we will be able to provide vital nourishment for at-risk older adults who need us.

Meals on Wheels OC set a bold goal in early 2019 to erase hunger and isolation for 15,000 older adults a year by 2025, essentially a 50% increase or 1,000 new clients per year. Due to the increase in demand and financial support during the pandemic, we have already surpassed these targets.

Our 2021 goal is to provide vital nourishment and connections for all who need us now more than ever.

Our success factors include:

MEASURABLE IMPACT

Guarantee innovative and accessible solutions that meet the health and social needs of the diverse communities of older adults in Orange County

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES

Leverage public and private resources to bridge gaps in responding to the needs of the growing older adult population

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Mobilize a community of advocates to advance systems changes and solutions that nourish older adults throughout life

EFFECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE

Demonstrate daring leadership that bolsters high-performing teams resulting in an effective and efficient organization

*The Orange County Healthy Aging Initiative, 2016

HELP US CONTINUE TO NOURISH HOPE AND WELL-BEING FOR OUR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS
Partner Network
GRATEFUL FOR A NETWORK OF TIRELESS PARTNERS
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FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
  • 92 percent of every dollar received goes directly to nourishing older adults through the Meals on
    Wheels OC programs; this percentage is well above the industry norm of 70-80 percent
  • 600 volunteers contributed 90,000+ hours to our efforts, enabling us to stretch each dollar
Leadership
Board of Directors
Board Officers
Chair
Earle Zucht
Business Development,
Verde Watts
PAST Chair
Stuart Moss, MBA
Managing Director, Keystone Capital Markets, Inc.
Vice Chair
Scott Heinila
Regional Director, Producers Choice Network
SECRETARY
Corey Saenz
President, COR
Branding Agency
Treasurer
DeVon Wiens, CPA
Retired Partner,
Moss Adams
Board Members
Gary Coburn
Principal, Restaurant
Concept Innovations
Lynn Daucher
Former Director,
California Department of Aging
Richard Lee
Associate Director, BKM Capital Partners
Scott Lien
CEO & Co-Founder, GrandPad
Susan Lucero
Strategic Sales
Manager, Celonis
Stephen J. Margetic, CPA
President, Hyder & Company
Di Patterson
Founder & CEO, Success in Aging Centers
Randy A. Platt, C.A. RCFE
Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO Care Partners Integrated Healthcare
Chalat Rajaram, MD
Senior Medical Director, Vitas Healthcare
Paula J. Serios
Senior Vice President, BVK Marketing
Tom Sowers
Regional Managing Director of Sales, 24HR Home Care
Staff Leadership
Holly Hagler, MM
President & Chief Executive Officer
Jane Roth, CPA
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer
Gio Corzo, MHA
Vice President, Home & Care Services
Darla Olson
Vice President, Advancement
Delena Gutierrez
Vice President, Social Services
Maria Castaneda, PHR, SHRM-CP
Senior Director, Human Resources

“MEALS ON WHEELS OC IS MORE THAN NUTRITIOUS FOOD. IT’S KINDNESS, COMPASSION AND CONNECTION. MEALS ON WHEELS OC IS DIGNITY…IT’S HOPE.”

–TEENA TOMLINSON, SITE MANAGER, CITY OF CYPRESS SENIOR CENTER, VALUED CITY PARTNER OF MEALS ON WHEELS OC

CONTRIBUTORS

Gifts made between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

LEVEL: CHAMPION
$50,000+

  • Alignment Healthcare
  • Anaheim Community Foundation
  • Archstone Foundation
  • Meals on Wheels Association of America
  • Sun Family Foundation

LEVEL: AMBASSADOR
$25,000—$49,999

  •  
  • The Allergan Foundation
  • Bank of America Charitable Foundation
  • Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Letner Roofing Co
  • SCAN Health Plan
  • Wells Fargo Foundation

LEVEL: PARTNER
$10,000—$24,999

  • 5 Day Business Forms
  • Bluebird Legacy, Inc
  • Brasstech, Inc
  • The Crean Foundation
  • Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
  • Four Love Fund
  • Golden Age Foundation
  • GrandPad, Inc
  • Lester Family
  • Mark Roberts Warehouse
  • MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center
  • O.L. Halsell Foundation
  • OC Community Resilience Fund
  • Pacific Life Foundation
  • Rastaclat, LLC
  • Rhynard Family Foundation
  • Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation
  • Steadfast Giving Tree Foundation

LEVEL: COMPANION
$2,500—$4,999

  • Please scroll to view full list
  • 24HR HomeCare
  • Acacia Home Health, Hospice, & Palliative
  • Leslie Andrews
  • Brian & Kristi Bailey
  • Dick Beissel
  • California Health Advocates
  • Patricia Camp
  • Care Partners at Home
  • Circle Vision, LLC
  • Essensa Ventures, LLC
  • Diane Froot
  • Greenfield Global
  • Margaret Hakanson
  • Howard & Carol Hay
  • Health Essentials
  • Hyder & Company, Stephen Margetic Heart
  • Irvine Cottages
  • Karen Jeffries
  • Colin Kleis
  • MedWell Medical
  • Pacific Group
  • Personal Touch Cleaning & Maintenance, Inc
  • Fred Randall, Jr
  • Carole Smith
  • Michael & Sherrill Smith
  • Wilbert Smith
  • Margaret Sperrico
  • Stater Bros. Charities
  • Carol Sudbeck
  • Julia Thielman
  • US Foods
  • Yoshiki Foundation
  • Majid & Sohaila Zarrinkelk

LEVEL: FRIEND
$500—$999

  • Please scroll to view full list
  • Brian Abrams
  • Anaheim United Methodist Church
  • Thomas & Mary Andrusky
  • Applied General Agency
  • Alan Arnold
  • Hans Avemaria
  • James Bagdonas
  • Carole Bamrick
  • Nicole Baril
  • Dr. Nicholas Begovich
  • Nivedita Bhatt
  • Summer Born
  • Judith Boroskin
  • Darcy Bouzeos
  • Fred Braddock
  • Arthur Bredenbeck
  • Barbara Brewer
  • Julie Briggs
  • Knox Brooks
  • Pamela Brown
  • Robert Buettell
  • Vincent Bundalian
  • Diana Bunin
  • Dr. Kerry Burnight & Mr. Todd Burnight
  • William Burns
  • Mike & Kris Burns
  • California Community Foundation
  • Lorenzo Canales
  • Teresa G. Cano
  • Care Assist Services
  • Anne Carter
  • Kerri Casino
  • Rachel Castro
  • Maryann Cazzell
  • Donald Chappell
  • Shirley Charity
  • Lynn Childress
  • Sam Chung
  • Abby Cook
  • Alayne Cortes
  • Richard Cote
  • Darrel Craig
  • Jay Cramer
  • Harry Crowell
  • Rick & Laiza Davis
  • Daniel Deaton
  • Steven & Lynn Dewilde
  • Diamond Gloves
  • Larry & Sally Dick
  • William & Joan Dooley
  • William Dunton
  • Linda Dziedzic
  • Ebell Club of Anaheim
  • Ebell Club of Fullerton
  • Jon & Michelle Echelberry
  • Frank & Ardith Endres
  • Jennifer Evans
  • Paula Evron
  • Alan Ey
  • George & Carol Fotinakes
  • Marilyn Fox
  • D.A. Fromdahl
  • Fullerton Gardens
  • Michael Gallagher
  • Richard & Brenda Galliardt
  • Steven Gilman
  • Patricia Godfrey
  • David & Irene Gonzales
  • Candice Gore
  • Cecelia Gorman
  • Julie Gudzunas
  • Patricia Hamilton
  • Terry Hanna
  • Parker Hannifin Foundation
  • Jerry Hendrickson
  • Christine Herman
  • William Higgins
  • Horizon Therapeutics USA, Inc
  • Ralph Howarth
  • John Huff
  • Herbert Huitt
  • Grace Jeon
  • David Jerome
  • Laurel Johnson
  • Jennifer Jones
  • Yuhrong Kao
  • Dr. Daniel Kaplan & Mrs. Barbara Kaplan
  • Chris Keele
  • Lawrence Kerneen
  • Rebecca Kim
  • Bryan Kim
  • John Kirkowski
  • Rod Kistinger
  • Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim
  • Khari Knight
  • James & Joyce Knowles
  • Thomas & Joan Kosuth
  • Denise Kozak
  • Marjorie Kriege
  • Mani Krishnan
  • Virginia Kyle
  • Richard Landsverk
  • Jenny Lanning
  • Yumiko Larsen
  • Tracey Lee
  • Jonathan Lee
  • Cheryl Leininger
  • Alan & Cista
  • Janette Lewis
  • Jean Lien
  • Robert Linnell
  • John & Becky Lomaka
  • James & Nancy Lord
  • Nancy Lord
  • Andrew Luketic
  • Steve Ma
  • Dr. Marvin Maas & Mrs. Jane Maas
  • The Maggette Family
  • Mary Malk
  • Rodd Mann
  • Amal Mansour
  • Whitney Martin
  • Heather Mass
  • Marilyn Mastin
  • Frances May
  • Martin McColgan
  • Bridget McKeag
  • Barbara Millard
  • Layne & Suzanne Miller
  • Shelley Miller
  • Ino Montanez
  • Virginia Moore
  • Liz Morton
  • Diana Murray
  • Richard Myers
  • Frances Napolitan
  • Albert Nault
  • Peninnah Ndichu
  • Maxine Nelson
  • William Nowlan
  • Oakmont of Orange
  • Jeff & Darla Olson Heart
  • Shirley Olson
  • Steve Orin
  • Linda Overby
  • Dominique Padilla
  • Kathleen Palkovic
  • Theresa Parra
  • Nila Patel
  • Nick Payzant
  • Douglas Petterson
  • Randy & Kari Platt Heart
  • John Potter
  • Marcia Radel
  • Judith J. Rader
  • Red Hill Lutheran Church
  • James Redman “Infinity”
  • Lori Renaud
  • Julia Rias
  • Debra Ricker
  • Janis Rico
  • Jane Roth
  • Donna Rybacki
  • Hasna Saeid
  • Corey & Maureen Saenz
  • Paul Sandorff
  • Earl Schack
  • Sheila Schlee
  • Michael & Cindy Schrader
  • Thomas & Barbara Schworer
  • Mary Shandrow
  • Joselito Siababa
  • Aaron Sierra
  • Edward & Jean Smet
  • Karen Smith
  • Mary Smithberger
  • Maria Solis Martinez
  • Carrie Solomon
  • Lee & Rose Stacy
  • Sheryl Stein-Tidus
  • James Stewart
  • Mike & Cindy Stieger
  • Stonelf Fund
  • Sunflower Gardens
  • Raghu Thota
  • Kristine Tidwell
  • Greg Tirabasso
  • Richard & Sandra Tjaden
  • Elden Torres
  • Emily Trosclair
  • Darrell Tuntland
  • UBS
  • Tina Uchida
  • University Synagogue
  • Joan Valent
  • Valley View Gardens
  • Dr. Norman Vinn & Mrs. Marsha Vinn
  • Mariam Vlacilek
  • James C. & M. J. Wagner
  • Frank Washington
  • Laura Watson
  • Parker & Jessica Wells
  • Chuck Whitney
  • John & Claudine Wielenga
  • Sheila Wilcock
  • L.A. & H.J. Winkler
  • Rosina Wong
  • Mohammad Yassaman
  • Linda Zimmer
  • Earle & Maria Zucht Heart

LEVEL: COLLABORATOR
$5,000—$9,999

      • Alzheimer’s Association
      • Alzheimer’s Orange County, Inc
      • Anonymous
      • Dick Atnip Heart
      • C.E and S. Foundation, Inc
      • CareChoices, Inc
      • Kevin & Denise Cassin
      • Don & Lynn Daucher Heart
      • Dhont Family Foundation
      • Dignity Memorial – Fairhaven
      • Marilyn Edwards
      • John H. Grace Foundation
      • Joe & Holly Hagler “Infinity” Heart
      • Heffernan Foundation
      • Emily & Jeremy Krout
      • Flora Lee
      • Joe & Susan Papiri Heart
      • Barbara Roberts
      • Shanbrom Family Fund
      • James Sommerville
      • Sunrise Respiratory Care DME
      • Dan & Mary Ann Vincent
      • Carol Zielski

LEVEL: NEIGHBOR
$1,000—$2,499

  • Please scroll to view full list
  • Kara Adams
  • Advance DME and Medical Supplies
  • Alex & Marine Agazaryan
  • Theresa Allen Heart
  • Attentive Home Care
  • Arthur & Cathleen Balazs
  • Sally Bankson
  • Barbara Baranski
  • Linda Barnett
  • Jerome Barr
  • Ben & Leyda Bequer
  • Matt Bissonette
  • Michael & Nancy Bodziak
  • Boeing
  • Barbara Boies
  • Boomers Insurance Services
  • Liviu & Elena Bor
  • Brand New Day
  • Scott Brinkerhoff
  • Bristol Hospice
  • Trinh Bui
  • The Tsao Family
  • Shelly Campbell
  • Conrad & Kenna Caprez
  • Capriana
  • Gary & Kerri Coburn
  • J Cook
  • Maureen Costello
  • Roy E. Crummer Foundation
  • Brian & Dianne Daucher
  • Jay & Lynne Davis
  • Donald DeBates
  • Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation
  • John & Barbara Doyle
  • Patricia Doyle
  • Curtis & Ernalee Eakin
  • Timothy Egan
  • Sandy Fainbarg
  • Jason Fletcher
  • Fullerton South Rotary Charities, Inc
  • Paul Gaarenstroom
  • Alex & Carrie Garufis
  • Robert Goeke
  • Susan Hartman
  • Richard Hasselman
  • Carl & Diane Hattermann
  • Scott & Melissa Heinila
  • Stephen Hessler & Kellie Rodriguez
  • Yvonne Hill
  • Julianne Holt
  • Tyler Huntington
  • The Honorable Cecelia Hupp & Mr. Scott Hupp
  • Linda Huynh
  • Frank & Carol Infusino
  • Irvine Adult Day Health Services
  • Michael Jarvis
  • Nadra Johnson
  • Construction Forensics
  • Carol Kiser
  • Pamela Klemm
  • Frani Krum
  • Sheila Kushell
  • The La Rocco Family
  • Lois Lacy
  • Bruce Lemon
  • The Lewis Family
  • Liang & Quinley Wealth Management, Inc
  • Bentley-Shull Charitable Foundation
  • Mary Lueking
  • MaXum Therapy
  • Dick & Tracie McCloskey
  • McMaster-Carr Supply Company
  • Linda McQuerrey
  • Dr. Monica Mehren & Mr. Richard Thompson
  • Candice Miller
  • Mark Miller, MD
  • Rae Miyoshi
  • Monarch Health Care
  • Fred & Vickie Montgomery
  • Gayle Morrison
  • Stuart & Holly Moss
  • Charlene Moss
  • National Charity League, Inc, Whittier Chapter
  • Dieter & Cynthia Nemes
  • Newport Farms
  • Dietrich & Caroline Nicholson
  • Oakmont of Huntington Beach
  • O’Connor Mortuary
  • Pacific Cremation Society
  • Di Patterson
  • John Payne
  • Daniel Perlmutter
  • PIMCO Foundation
  • Arlene Post
  • Robert & Patricia Proffitt
  • Sharon Puri
  • Chalat Rajaram, MD
  • Jerry & Mary Reinhart
  • Shaun Root
  • The Rotary Foundation
  • Rafael Ruvalcaba
  • Christy Schaible
  • John & Stacy Schaus
  • Weldon Schorg
  • Ed Schrum
  • Sea Crest Home Health & Hospice
  • Cynthia Selva
  • Senior Living Options of California
  • Paula Serios
  • Kathleen Shah
  • Bill & Martha Shaver
  • Thomas & Janice Sheffield
  • Barry Sheldon
  • Patricia Shiley
  • Thomas & Cammie Shreve
  • Nick & Donna Shubin
  • Michael & Pauline Smith
  • The Snell Family
  • Susie Sokol
  • Eileen Sugiura
  • Sven & Julia Sykes
  • Tawa Charitable Foundation
  • Karl & Kathy Tipre
  • Alice Vanklaveren
  • Vitas Hospice Services, LLC
  • Peter Wang
  • DeVon Weins Heart
  • Harry Whitcomb
  • Kimberly Wilde
  • David & Donna Wilson
  • Windsor Gardens Care Center
  • Ailing Wu
  • Yardi Systems, Inc

PUBLIC FUNDING

  •  
  • Administration for Community Living
  • City of Anaheim
  • City of Brea
  • City of Costa Mesa
  • City of Cypress
  • City of Fountain Valley
  • City of Fullerton
  • City of Garden Grove
  • City of La Habra
  • City of Santa Ana
  • City of Seal Beach
  • City of Tustin
  • City of Westminster
  • County of Orange Office on Aging

LEGACY OF HOPE SOCIETY

  • Gail Bales
  • Philip & Suzanne Beukema
  • Charles & Nancy Cargo
  • Max Engel*
  • Joe & Holly Hagler
  • Rosaline Mehling
  • Lumina Morgan*
  • James Redman
  • June Traver
  •  
  • * Deceased

Contributors to Don Lewis Memorial Fund

Legacy of Hope Society

IN LOVING MEMORY OF DON LEWIS, LONGTIME BOARD MEMBER AND CHAMPION FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE AT-RISK ELDERLY NEIGHBORS.

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