The year 2020 certainly came with its challenges, not only for YMOW, but also for those we serve. As older adults and people with health issues took steps to stay at home, demand for Meals on Wheels spiked. Meanwhile, our volunteer pool dwindled.
But thanks to YMOW’s dedicated staff and a small but hard-working corps of volunteers, we delivered more meals in 2020 than in any year before.
110,257 meals were delivered last year, including 3,836 emergency meals, 56,874 hot meals and 48,143 cold meals. 1,104 liquid meal replacements also were provided. Our friends at Blue Llama, Ann Arbor, put us over the 110,000 mark with their generous donations of prepared meals at the peak of the pandemic.
“I can’t say enough about the folks who made this possible. Our client care associates, office staff, board members and community volunteers really came through to care for their neighbors during an unprecedented time of need,” said Alison Foreman, Executive Director of YMOW.
In addition to prepared meals, YMOW staff and volunteers provided YMOW clients with nearly 18 tons of food from Food Gatherers in 2020. Clients had access to bread, milk, eggs and shelf stable food in addition to their prepared meals.
“Without the financial support of our donors, none of this would be possible,” Alison said. “Because people care enough to give to YMOW, we have been able to meet the ever-increasing needs of Ypsilanti’s homebound neighbors.”