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.
Meals on Wheels of Odessa delivers meals in Ector County. 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
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.
How can you help?
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.
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.
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 550
clients a day.
We only have one fundraiser
a year ( Mudbug ).
.
We were started by a group of
church ladies who saw the
need and wanted to help.
We have been serving clients
for 45 years.
No one that is eligible is
turned away.
We started serving meals in
1977 and only had 12 clients.
ORMC prepares our meals
Meet our Board Members
Stephen Wilson, President
Meredith McKeehan, Vice President
Cristal Villegas, Secretary
Montie Garner, Treasurer
Angel Casas, Board Member
Angel Garcia, Board Member
Gail Etheredge, Board Member
Judy Barker, Board Member
Judy Hays, Board Member
Kym Maxwell, Board Member
Mary Conlon Board Member
Robin Provance, Board Member
Steve Estes, Board Member
Tim Ogilvy, Board Member
Vicki Wood, Board Member
ADMINISTRATION
Craig Stoker, Executive Director
Joann Vasquez, Office Administrator
Sandra Rodriguez, Bookkeeper