About Alameda Meals on Wheels
Delivering Meals 7 Days a Week, Since 1973
Alameda Meals on Wheels (AMOW) is a locally-funded, seven-day-a-week program that has been delivering hot, nourishing meals to Alameda residents since 1973! Each day, holidays included, our cheerful and caring volunteers deliver a mid-day meal to more than 200 Alameda residents of all ages that need our assistance – whether due to recent surgery or hospitalization, because they aren’t able to get out to grocery shop, or because they can’t cook their own meals. Our recipients pay on a sliding fee scale, based upon their ability.
Scores of volunteers provide the delivery system for the meals that are prepared for us daily by the kitchen staff at Bay View Rehabilitation Hospital, totaling nearly 60,000 meals per year. These volunteers often provide the only personal contact and conversation our homebound recipients have on a daily basis.
Our program has enjoyed its longevity because of the incredible spirit of volunteerism shown by our meal delivery corps and because of the continuing generosity of those who donate to our program. It is also through the time and generosity of our board members that we are able to keep rolling.
We hope that this website provides you with an understanding of our service. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions or need additional information.
Give us a call at 510-865-6131 during our office hours: 9 am – 12 noon weekdays!
History
Alameda Meals on Wheels (AMOW) was founded in 1973 by a group of concerned citizens who saw the need for assistance in having healthy meals delivered to the homebound. A volunteer board of directors established a non-profit organization guided by the mission “to promote independent living for persons of all ages by delivering a nutritionally-balanced, hot meal daily to their homes.”
The Alameda Red Cross provided our first headquarters. In 1974, we moved our offices to the First Presbyterian Church building and then moved again to Hillhaven Convalescent Hospital (now Bay View Rehabilitation Hospital, where we remain today).
Contracting midday meal preparation from the Alameda Unified School District, Meals on Wheel’s rallied a small group of volunteers to deliver these meals to residents who were homebound and unable to cook for themselves. Since the mid 1970’s, the kitchen at Bay View has provided the hot meals served daily to our recipients. Today, AMOW’s mission continues with over 175 volunteers who deliver meals to the homes of over 200 recipients.
In 2004, AMOW added the Friendly Visitors Program, which offers personal visits to Alameda’s residents who are homebound or living in a care center. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are replaced by a weekly visit by a caring volunteer. We currently offer 70 visits each week. With food and friendship underlying AMOW’s flagship programs, AMOW has adjusted its mission to simply “promote independent living for persons of all ages.”
Alameda Meals on Wheels is unique among other meal service programs in that it does not receive government funding, allowing AMOW to achieve its mission to serve persons of all ages. As a result, AMOW depends entirely on individuals, businesses, and organizations for volunteer and financial support.
Support Us
Volunteer
You can help AMOW and its recipients by delivering meals. Volunteers are needed for both weekdays and weekends, and meals are delivered in the morning.
Contribute
AMOW receives no government funding and depends solely on donations from private citizens, businesses, service clubs, and organizations.
Sponsor
AMOW has been fortunate to receive support from a growing number of business sponsors who have donated cash as well as made "in-kind" donations.