Meals on Wheels receives millions for improvements

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — Meals on Wheels Western Michigan has received millions of dollars in state funding to improve its facilities and help expand its reach.

Meals of Wheels of Western Michigan serves around 6,000 older adults in Kent and Allegan Counties through programs such as a pantry program and home-delivered meals each year.

“Our home-delivered meals are a lifeline for a lot of seniors. They generally are not able to get out and about, prepare meals on their own,” Lisa Wideman, president & CEO of Meals on Wheels Western Michigan, said.

It’s not just about providing older adults with nutritious meals. For volunteers, it’s also an opportunity to build important relationships.

“Almost half of my people, I may be the only person they interact with through the course of a week, in person,” Ed Coke, Meals on Wheels of Western Michigan volunteer, said.

The senior population is expected to grow into 2035, and the “number of older adults will exceed the number of family members that can take care of them,” Wideman said.

As Meals on Wheels Western Michigan works to fill that gap, the organization was presented with $2 million in state appropriation funding on Monday to revitalize and expand its kitchen in Grandville.

“Many of us will be taking advantage of Meals on Wheels services well into the future. And if we can help them take those steps forward now, that’s something we won’t have to worry about,” state Rep. Carol Glanville, D-Walker, said.

Improving aging facilities, Wideman says, will greatly increase Meals on Wheels’ capacity to make meals.

“Right now, we’re able to produce about 800,000 meals total,” Wideman said. “With our kitchen, as it evolves, we’ll be able to triple that.”

Wideman said they’re also looking to expand their programs with volunteers. For that to happen, extra space is needed.

Volunteers like Coke say they’re looking forward to the updates.

“Volunteers are out here on a rainy day. It’s not fun to go load your cooler and sort your meals and things like that as you stand out in the rain,” Coke said. “It would be great if we could facilitate that and make that a little better organized.”

Meals of Wheels Western Michigan is currently in the planning phase of the project.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.