Mission & History
WHAT IS METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS?
Metroport Meals On Wheels, Inc. is a nonprofit organization which organizes volunteers to deliver hot lunches to homes of individuals who are elderly, frail, chronically ill or homebound. Although most program participants receive meals on an on-going basis, MMOW helps during periods when someone needs temporary or short-term assistance.
MMOW also provides help for active seniors by creating and managing senior center community luncheon programs and promoting already established senior centers.
HOW LONG HAS METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES TO SENIORS?
Metroport Meals On Wheels' home delivered meals program was founded in Roanoke on April 1, 1980. As the communities around Roanoke grew, volunteers began to model meal programs in their communities after Roanoke Meals On Wheels. In 1993, the various organizations came together and became Metroport Meals On Wheels.
The community lunch program at Roanoke's Senior Center began in 1981. Over the years, MMOW has implemented similar programs in Colleyville, Flower Mound, Haslet, Highland Village, Justin, and Southlake.
WHAT DOES "METROPORT" MEAN?
Metroport describes the area between Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and Alliance Airport.
WHAT COMMUNITIES DOES MMOW SERVE?
MMOW serves home-delivered meals in three counties.
Denton County
Argyle, Bartonville, Justin, Northlake, Roanoke, and Trophy Club.
Tarrant County
Bedford, Colleyville, Grapevine, Haslet, Keller, North Richland Hills, Southlake and Westlake.
Wise County
Auroa, Boyd, Newark, and Rhome.
Senior Center luncheons are held in Colleyville, Flower Mound, Haslet, Highland Village, Justin,
Roanoke, and Southlake.
WHERE DO THE MEALS COME FROM?
MMOW began with volunteers cooking the meals in their own homes. In 1992, the Marriott Solana Hotel's Cielo Restaurant became MMOW's first partner restaurant. Other partner restaurants were added as MMOW expanded into new areas: Luby's Cafeterias in Grapevine and Bedford, Mom's Café in Justin, Mimosa Manor in Keller, Chick-Fil-A in Hurst, Sonic in Colleyville and Denton, La Hacienda Ranch in Colleyville, Subway (Alliance), Andrews in Argyle, Snooty Pig in Haslet and Tater Junction in Wise County.
Partner restaurants which provide community meals for our senior center luncheons include Taco Bueno (Southlake), Romano's Macaroni Grill (Watauga), Chick-Fil-A (Watauga), Chicken Express (Colleyville), Snooty Pig (Keller), Boston Market (Southlake), Riscky's Barbecue (Colleyville), Sonny Bryan's Barbecue (Alliance), Bartley's Barbecue, Lee's Barbecue, Albertson's (Roanoke & Watauga), Bluebonnet Cove, Kroger's (Southlake) and Tom Thumb (Southlake).
Because of the civic spirit of our partner restaurants, meals can be provided at a reduced cost to MMOW's seniors.
DOES MMOW OFFER DIABETIC MEALS?
Many of our kitchens prepare meats without gravy or sauces and provide fruit for dessert. Most participants with diabetes find that their MMOW meal balances with other food selections to meet their dietary needs. MMOW continues to look for ways to accommodate as many participants as possible.
WHAT DOES THE MEAL COST?
Each meal costs approximately $5.00 and provides a meat, two vegetables and fruit or dessert. The cost for feeding one person for
| One Year | $1200 |
| Six Months | $600 |
| Three Months | $300 |
| One Month | $100 |
| One Week | $ 25 |
WHO PAYS FOR THE MEALS?
No participant is ever denied services because of financial need. Funding comes from many different sources: the community, foundation, grants, fundraisers and contributions from the participants. Many participants are able to pay for their meals; others pay a portion of the cost. For many participants, being able to pay some cost of the meals removes the stigma of charity and is the only way they would consider receiving meals from MMOW. However, it is stressed to participants that there are fundraising events to help pay for meals when necessary.
If a participant pays for meals, the charge never exceeds the direct cost of the food, which averages $3.50 per meal. MMOW assumes the responsibility for the expense of recruiting, training, retaining, managing and communicating with the home-delivery volunteers as well as program activities and coordination plus the incidental costs of containers, supplemental food, beverages and condiments.
Senior Center luncheons began as covered dish events. Some participants bring covered dishes while others who have scaled back their cooking activities pay $3.00 for the meal. The covered dish may contain a favorite recipe or a simple offering of jello or a can of corn. The centers arrange for restaurants or church groups to provide the remainder of the meals. Again, no one is ever turned away because of financial need.
WHO SUPPORTS METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS?
MMOW operates independently of federal funding and provides services to those in need regardless of ability to pay. The support of friends and civic organizations in the community helps make the meal programs available to all who need them. MMOW is a grassroots organization that has the support of over 600 volunteers. MMOW's next annual golf tournament is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2009 and provides a major portion of the budget. The Classic Café hosts a benefit dinner for MMOW every fall. MMOW's resale store, Sadie's Consignment and Resale in Roanoke, generates ongoing revenue for the meals programs.
WHY DO COMMUNITIES SUPPORT MMOW?
MMOW helps strengthen communities by promoting a caring spirit that results in a greater community awareness and commitment to voluntarism. MMOW reinforces a "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" philosophy and provides volunteers with the satisfaction of reaching out and helping others. Through MMOW, volunteers contribute in a positive way to an improved quality of life in their own communities while experiencing the enjoyment that come from personal interaction with the participants. The ability to partner with cities, with restaurants within the communities and with active community volunteers enhances the quality of life for all.