Serving Seniors with Nourishment, Connection, and Care
At Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches, we deliver freshly prepared, nutritious meals to homebound seniors across our community. Our mission goes beyond food — we offer meaningful human connection, regular well-being checks, and additional support services to help seniors live independently and with dignity.
How it Works
Once eligibility is confirmed, our background-checked volunteers begin delivering meals three days each week, providing more than nutritious food — they also bring a friendly visit, a familiar face, and an important safety check.
Each week we provide five (or seven) complete dinners along with accompaniments such as bread, dessert, and other items. Because clients must be home to receive their meals, every delivery creates an opportunity for regular personal interaction while offering added peace of mind for family members and caregivers.
We also know that when a senior needs help, waiting matters. Our goal is to begin service as quickly as possible, and most eligible seniors can start receiving meals about a week after their screening is completed.
More Than a Meal: Additional Support
Once enrolled, clients benefit from a variety of thoughtful
programs designed to meet their broader needs:
Wellness Checks and Emergency Alerts
If a client does not respond during a scheduled delivery, we follow up promptly by contacting their emergency contact. If there is an immediate concern for the client’s safety or well-being, 911 is called.
Cognitive Activities
Monthly brain teasers and word puzzles help keep minds active and engaged, with fun goody bags awarded for completed challenges.
Hurricane Preparedness Kits
At the start of each hurricane season, clients receive a four-day supply of meals, snacks, and water to have on hand in case severe weather interrupts regular meal deliveries.
Celebrating Fun Food Holidays
National Pumpkin Month? We’ve got it covered with pumpkin lasagna! Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? That sounds like the perfect excuse for a special treat. Throughout the year, we love finding fun ways to add a little surprise, variety, and joy to our meal deliveries.
Birthday Celebrations
Because every birthday deserves to be remembered, our seniors receive a card in the mail and a special birthday treat bag delivered to their door.
Cost of Service
We provide high quality meals at a subsidized rate for everyone, with each client contributing based on their finances, using a sliding scale.
- Meals range from $2.00 to $8.50 each
- Example: $40 for 4 weeks at the lowest cost-share, up to $170 at the full rate.
Our Meals
Meals are cooked fresh daily in our local kitchen by our in-house
chef, who also plans the menu and oversees quality control.
A protein, vegetable, and starch
Whole wheat bread, fruit and a Friday deli lunch included
Sweet treats twice a week
Veterans
Military veterans may qualify for fully subsidized (free) meals, depending on funding and eligibility. Generally, qualifying veterans have limited household savings and income up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.
All clients are set up with monthly automatic payments by credit or debit card. We also accept SNAP/EBT benefits, as we are a registered SNAP provider.
Who is Eligible
What does “homebound” mean?
- Entirely homebound: the individual does not drive and cannot leave the home or use public transportation without assistance.
- Primarily homebound: the individual may still drive and leave the home independently; it is on a limited basis no more than twice a week; it may require mobility aids; it is physically tiring or challenging.
In general, eligible individuals:
- Spend 80% or more of their time at home
- Live alone, with a spouse or partner, or with one adult child who is not home during the day.
- Have less than 4 hours per day of in-home assistance
- Are able to accept the meal delivery at the door on delivery days
We also serve:
- Seniors recovering from illness or surgery who need temporary meal delivery.
- Individuals under the age of 65 who meet our requirements for age exception during the screening call. (serious illness or medical condition, no local family support, limited financial resources.) A doctor's referral is required; service may be offered on a one-time or temporary basis and typically is no longer than 60 days.
How to Enroll
Getting started is easy with our phone screening which takes about 10 minutes. Please be prepared to provide information on:
- Age and address
- Household occupancy
- Mobility and ability to drive or use public transportation
- Level of in-home support, if any
- Household income and savings (for sliding scale eligibiity)
Once eligibility is confirmed, we mail a welcome packet with enrollment forms for completion. Documentation may be required such as proof of veteran status, income/expenses, or a doctor's note confirming limited mobility.
Meal service typically begins within two weeks of receiving completed paperwork. Referrals are welcome from family, neighbors, caregivers, or professionals — but a referral is not required.
Service Locations
Our service area ranges from Jupiter/Tequesta south to Century Village in Boca Raton. Service availability for a specific neighborhood is confirmed during the eligibility screening.
