MEALS ON WHEELS OF ODESSA

Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization that delivers a hot nutritious meal to the elderly, disabled and the homebound citizens of Ector County . Our service helps these citizens to maintain their health, independence and their dignity by remaining to live in their own home.

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Meals on Wheels of Odessa delivers meals in Odessa City limits. We go as far south as I-20, as far north as Yukon Road, as far east as loop 338, and we deliver as far west as 866

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We also take donations of cat food and dog food, so our clients will not have to share their meal with the pet they love.

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How can you help?

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One hour a week is all it takes to deliver up to 17 meals. One client can receive meals for a full year for only $1000. One knock at the door could save a life. One smile from you and a hello will make someone’s day.

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Help us help them and become a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. If you have one hour a month, that will help! Volunteers not only deliver meals but also, perhaps even more Importantly, show concern, love, and compassion. For many clients, volunteers are the only people they see.

 

HISTORY OF MEALS ON WHEELS OF ODESSA, INC.

In 1977, Meals on Wheels of Odessa began its mission to eliminate hunger and prevent premature nursing home placement by providing a hot meal each weekday to low-income, frail, and handicapped individuals. With meals purchased from a local cafeteria, fifteen concerned citizens from different churches started to deliver home meals to twelve recipients that first day in September of ‘77. Today, our meals are purchased from Odessa Regional Medical Center Hospital.

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Our first building was furnished by Odessa College in one of their original barracks, and once the program outgrew that space, the office relocated to a larger building donated to us by the First Christian Church. When the City of Odessa condemned this building we rented an old unused plant nursery with very little heat.

 

Due to the efforts of our formidable Board of Directors, Meals on Wheels of Odessa purchased the very first building at 1313 E. 5th St., however, this building did not have heat in the meal area.

 

In 2007, 30 years after those first fifteen began the mission to serve hot meals to the homebound, the vacant lot across the street was purchased at 1314 E. 5th St. and is now the permanent home of Meals on Wheels of Odessa. This building was built with the help of many members of the community and will be home for many years to come. It should be noted as well that this building comes with heating and air conditioning in every room.

 

From the original 15 to over 750 volunteers delivering meals to approximately 570+ recipients daily, our volunteers encompass all walks of life, from retirees to scholarship students in high school and college. Without these dedicated and cherished volunteers, Meals on Wheels of Odessa would not be able to accomplish our stated goal of delivering meals to our client population.

 

Our volunteers do much more than simply delivering a hot meal each day. In addition to presenting them with a friendly face and an encouraging word, they ensure the recipient is safe in their home and feeling well. For so many this volunteer may be the only person the client will see or talk to that day. The volunteer truly does bring the outside world to many and we are honored and grateful for their assistance.

DID YOU KNOW?

Delivering meals is a full time

job and requires the help of

160 volunteers a week. 

 

We have 32 routes to deliver

each delivery day.

We serve an average of 570

clients a day.

We only have one fundraiser

a year ( Mudbug ).

We started serving meals in

1977 and only had 12 clients.

ORMC prepares our meals.

We were started by a group of

church ladies that saw the

need and wanted to help.

We have been serving clients

for 40 years.

We serve 45 people over the

age of 90.

We serve 3 people over the

age of 100.

No one that is eligible is

turned away.

$1000.00 will feed one for one year

 

Meet our Board Members

Stephen Wilson, President

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Phillip Clingman, Vice President

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Judy Williams, Secretary

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Montie Garner, Treasurer

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Angel Garcia, Board Member

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Meredith Mckeehan, Board Member

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Judy Barker, Board Member

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Mary Conlon, Board Member

Gail Etheredge, Board Member

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Sam Howell, Board Member

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Dick Saulsbury, Board Member

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Shan Johnson, Board Member

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Steve Estes, Board Member

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Cristal Villegas, Board Member

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Vicki Wood, Board Member

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Kym Maxwell, Board Member

ADMINISTRATION

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Margaret Burton, Executive Director

Joann Vasquez, Office Administrator

Sandra Rodriguez, Bookkeeper

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