Behind the Meal

Today we're joined by Linda Paetz. Kitchen Director.  for Mobile Meals of Toledo, with her unique background that blends a degree in social work and culinary training she overseas the production of hundreds of specialized life-sustaining meals everyday and we’ll to talk to her about the work they're doing in Toledo, a little bit about how she got involved with wheels on wheels,  and get some perspective on the future of the program.https://mobilemeals.org/

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 todaymowtampa.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. 

Today we have Debbie Sprouse the Executive Director of Asheville and Buncombe County Meals on Wheels in North Carolina. She has been with the program for over 10 years in different roles and served in her current position since 2020. She led them through the Covid 19 Pandemic and in 2024 one of the worst hurricanes in recent history to hit the United States, Hurricane Helene. Debbie also serves on the board of Meals on Wheels North Carolina.https://www.mowabc.org/

On this episode I’ll be talking with Chris Culak, Vice President of Development and Strategy at Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, VNA oversees the Meals on Wheels program for Dallas County Texas. We’ll discuss the importance of legislative advocacy, VNA’s long history in Texas, and providing services beyond just a meal. I’m your host Dave Colling, all this and more coming up on Behind the Meal. https://www.vnatexas.org/

On this episode of Behind the Meal, I talk to Rich Zeck, Executive Director of the Pitt County Council on Aging in Greenville North Carolina. We’ll discuss some of the challenges they face that hit very close to home to anyone familiar with meals on wheels, and the way they not only overcome these challenges but thrive while providing services far beyond just a meal.

Today, we're joined by Jennifer Kanney-Beebe, Director of Home and Community Based Services at Vantage, overseeing Meals on Wheels Northeast Ohio. Her background as a licensed Social Worker and licensed Professional Clinical Counselor offers valuable insights into helping the community beyond just providing meals. We also have Nora Logsdon, a Dietitian and Project Development Manager who has been with Vantage for 40 years. Nora will share the history of both Vantage and Meals on Wheels, and the essential services they provide across Northeast Ohio.

This episode of Behind the Meal we'll meet Beth Shapiro from Citymeals on Wheels in New York City. Citymeals on Wheels serves one of the densest populated areas in the country, which also happens to be one of the most diverse. We’ll learn about the pearls of delivering in New York traffic and about the partnerships that Citymeals on Wheels depends on to keep feeding their seniors.

 I'm excited to talk to Chuck Jackson, the Director of Senior Services for Wayne County in Michigan. Chuck oversees virtually all of the Meals on Wheels Programs in Wayne County, outside of Detroit. We’ll dive into the intersections of government and nonprofit work, and the challenges of finding enough volunteers to meet community needs. We'll also touch on the incredible gratitude of the seniors who receive these meals, and how that appreciation keeps us all coming back.

In this episode of Behind the Meal, I’ll be talking with Jen Steele We’ll learn about her journey from volunteering a soup kitchen in Ohio to CEO of Meals on Wheels San Francisco., Along the way we’ll discuss delivering meals to high rises, how traffics might affect your programs bottom line, and even a little bout robots.

In this episode of Behind the Meal, I’ll be talking with Jennifer Hoffman from Meals on Wheels Erie, Jennifer has a long history with Meals on Wheels in Erie Pennsylvania from board member to Executive Director. We’ll hear about the amazing partnerships that keep this Meals on Wheels program strong and a little about what its like to deliver meals in some of the worst snow storms to hit the country last year.