Today I'll speak with Jimmy Golding, the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels for Summit, Utah, and Wasatch counties. With a career dedicated to community service and social impact, Jimmy oversees a vital operation that provides over 118,000 meals annually, acting as a crucial lifeline for homebound seniors across the region.

Jimmy and I will talk about the things that make their program unique, the fact that they are a government agency, and how they created a separate nonprofit to help fund their activities to meet the needs of their community. And one of the most interesting kitchens of any meals on wheels program that I know of.  

On this episode we'll talk to Jeff Wyatt, the Senior Services Director at SEMCAC, South East Minnesota Community Action Council who oversees an expansive nutrition and support network across eleven counties in Southeast Minnesota. From the urban hub of Rochester to the most rural corners of the state, Jeff leads the charge in ensuring thousands of seniors stay nourished and connected to their communities.

www.semcac.org

Today, I'll be talking to Heather deJong, Director of Advancement and Engagement for Meals on Wheels of Ocean County in New Jersey.

We’ll learn how her program serves over 1,000 seniors daily, the challenges of operating large delivery routes in the suburbs, and their plans to diversity the funding they receive. We also discuss their wonderful "Community Cafes"—where seniors socialize, do chair volleyball, and even find reasons to have a party!

All that and much more on this episode of Behind the Meal.

https://csimow.org/

In this episode we'll talk to Tyler Amundson, Director of Mission and Development at Allies in Aging. Tyler was Executive Director for Big Sky Senior Services before their recent merger with Allies in Aging, where he continues their mission for seniors across his community, leading strategic initiatives and fundraising, among other things we'll get into in this episode. 

https://www.alliesinaging.org/about

Today we have a twofer. I’ll be speaking with Feleen Nancarvis and Brandon Pizzola from Lancaster PA about the ups and owns and life at Meals on Wheels, funding, volunteers, kitchen operations, and the reasons we do it day after day.

https://mealsonwheelsoflancaster.org/

Today, we welcome Steve King, the CEO of Meals on Wheels of Tampa. Steve is one of the Tampa Bay area's most respected nonprofit leaders, recently recognized as an Apogee Award Winner for large nonprofit CEO of the Year. For nearly two decades, Steve has led this incredible organization, and I’m happy t o have you here today

mowtampa.org

Todays episode is with Suzzette Jarman of  Meals on Wheels in Orange County North Carolina, we’ll be discussing community partnerships, the changes that came about after COVID and the challenges of fundraising.

https://www.mowocnc.org/

In this episode, I'll talk to Andrea Proulx Buinicki, the Chief Executive Officer at Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois, which serves suburban Chicago.  We’ll be talking about the kind of impact Meals on Wheels can have on those we serve, the importance of social connections, and a little about the weather. https://mowfni.org/about/

This is a special edition of Behind the Meal. We'll here from attendees at the Meals on Wheels America Conference in San Antonio Texas.

In this episode, I'll talk to Suzanne Washington the CEO of Meals on Wheels People, which serves counties in 2 states,  Oregon and Washington. We’ll be talking about the need to be flexible, understanding the needs of the community you serve, and running a restaurant.