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.
What We Provide
Our background-checked volunteers deliver meals several times a week, providing not just food, but a friendly visit and safety check. Because seniors must be home to receive their meals, this ensures regular interaction and peace of mind for families.
We aim to start service without delay — most eligible seniors begin receiving meals within just a few weeks of their first phone call. We do not maintain a waitlist.
More Than a Meal: Additional Support
Once enrolled, clients benefit from a variety of thoughtful programs designed to meet their broader needs:
- Emergency Contact Alerts: If there’s no answer at the door or signs of confusion or decline are noticed, we contact a designated family member or caregiver.
- Birthday Celebrations: Cake and a card to help make birthdays feel special.
- Hurricane Preparedness Kits: A 3-day supply of shelf-stable meals, snacks, and drinks provided at the start of hurricane season.
- Fun Food Holidays: We surprise clients with themed treats throughout the year — some favorites include National Chocolate Pudding Day and National Cookie Month.
- Cognitive Activities: Word puzzles and brain teasers are shared monthly, with Goody Bags as prizes for completed challenges.
We currently deliver from Lantana Road north through Jupiter, and to several senior communities in Delray Beach.
Service availability is confirmed during the eligibility screening. While this is our general service area, coverage may change, so please contact us to confirm availability for a specific address.
Meals are cooked fresh daily in our local kitchen by our in-house chef, who also plans the menu and oversees quality control.
Each meal typically includes:
- A protein, vegetable, and starch
(or a pasta entrée with protein and vegetable) - A serving of milk or juice
- Fruit or salad, and bread
- Dessert once a week
Meals are prepared without added salt, but they are not formally low-sodium.
Please note that we cannot accommodate special diets or food aversions at this time.
We offer meals at a subsidized rate, with clients contributing based on their income and savings, using a sliding scale:
- Meals range from $1.75 to $7.00 each
- Example: $35 for 4 weeks at the lowest rate, up to $140 at the full rate
- $7.00/meal is the maximum cost
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.
Our program is designed for seniors aged 65 and older who are homebound, either entirely or primarily.
What does “homebound” mean?
- Entirely homebound: Cannot leave the home without help, does not drive, and does not use public transportation independently.
- Primarily homebound: May occasionally go out (e.g., to a doctor or store) but requires mobility aids and finds it challenging.
In general, eligible individuals:
- Spend at least 80% of their time at home
- Are present during weekday deliveries
- May live alone or with a caregiver, spouse, or adult child
- Do not need to meet income requirements — we base eligibility on mobility and ability to safely obtain food
We also serve:
- Seniors temporarily recovering from illness or surgery
- Those with little or no in-home assistance (less than 4 hours per day)
- Individuals under age 65 temporarily, as resources allow, typically for up to 60 days
Getting started is easy. Our phone screening takes only a few minutes and covers:
- Age and address
- Who lives in the home
- Mobility and ability to leave home independently
- Household income and savings (for sliding scale eligibility)
- Level of in-home support, if any
Once eligibility is confirmed, we mail a welcome packet with enrollment forms and instructions. Clients may need to provide documentation such as proof of income or veteran status. Most enrollments are handled by phone, but a home visit may be required in some cases.
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.