About our meal delivery.
Bringing Nutrition and Comfort to Your Home
Peace of mind for our homebound neighbors.
With a focus on health and independence, our daily deliveries ensure clients receive hot, nutritious food while enjoying friendly visits. Whether you need a helping hand or know someone who does, we’re here to make life healthier, safer, and a little brighter.
Who is eligible?
- The need for meals should expand beyond a minimum of three weeks. However, shorter periods can be accommodated at the discretion of Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.
- If a potential client anticipates the need for meals following a scheduled hospitalization, the referral should be made prior to the hospital stay.
- YMOW clients must have a health status that generally prevents them from leaving their home for purposes other than medical appointments and occasional outings.
- YMOW clients are unable to obtain food or prepare complete, nutritious meals because of their health.
- YMOW clients do not have someone else in the home who is willing and able to provide meals.
- A spouse or unpaid caregiver may also be eligible to receive meals if YMOW determines receipt of a meal is in the best interest of the client.
- Health conditions prevent YMOW clients from participating in congregate meal programs, such as those provided by area senior centers and other groups.
- Potential clients must agree to an initial assessment prior to receiving meals. Exceptions are made in emergency situations.
- Clients must agree to a reassessment of their eligibility every 6 months.
- Special dietary needs may not be met by the YMOW menu. It must be determined that use of the Meals on Wheels service will not jeopardize the health of a client.
- Meal recipients must be able to feed themselves.
- Meal recipients must agree to be home to receive meals and to follow YMOW guidelines for cancelling a delivery.
What is your responsibility?
Potential clients must:
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Be home when meals are delivered. Meals are delivered between 11 AM – 2 PM, Monday through Friday.
Follow proper cancellation guidelines, giving 48 hours’ notice if you will not be there to receive meals. Service may be canceled after repeated failures to report an absence.
Be dressed or covered up when your meals arrive.
Keep your sidewalk and entry clear and shoveled. If you are unable to do this, please let YMOW know so we can connect you to someone who can help.
Fresh, Healthy Meals
Prepared by Michigan Medicine and supplemented by local produce from Food Gatherers, our meals prioritize nutrition and convenience for Ypsilanti’s seniors.
What the client can expect
- Your first meals will arrive as soon as all necessary information is received.
- An assessment by YMOW staff will be scheduled within the first week.
- Meals will arrive Monday through Friday between 11 AM – 2 PM
- We try to deliver meals around the same time each day. Clients should call YMOW if a meal is more than 30 minutes late.
- On Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, meals are delivered between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM.
- When our office is closed for a holiday we provide frozen meals. Current holidays are Maritn Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Junetenth, Fourth of July, Labor Day and the day after Thanksgiving. We deliver these meals a week before each holiday
About the Food
- Our meals are prepared by Michigan Medicine’s Patient Food and Nutrition Services. YMOW staff picks up the freshly prepared meals each day for delivery to clients throughout the greater Ypsilanti community.
- Each delivery will include a hot meal to be enjoyed mid-day and a chilled meal for evening.
- A weekly vegetarian option is available.
- All meals are low in salt and fat, and appropriate for people with diabetes.
- Each main meal includes an entrée and two vegetables.
- Each brown bag meal includes a fruit or vegetable, milk and bread, along with a main course such as a sandwich.
- Meals are served on a four-week menu cycle.
- At least six shelf-stable meals are delivered each year for use in an emergency. These meals are to be eaten in situations such as a power outage, severe weather, poor road conditions or other situations in which we are not able to deliver.
- Meals should be eaten when delivered or placed immediately in the refrigerator. The second meal and uneaten portions of the first meal need to be refrigerated.
- Reheat refrigerated “hot” meals in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Never reheat food in plastic packaging. Use a different container.
Liquid Nutrition
Local Produce
Every Monday, produce is delivered to us from Food Gatherers, a local organization that works to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community. The organization serves 170 non-profit agencies and programs, providing direct food assistance in the form of hot meals, nutritious snacks or emergency groceries to low-income adults, seniors and children in Washtenaw County.
On average, Food Gatherers supplies YMOW with about 400 pounds of fresh produce, dairy and grains each week. These donations are distributed to YMOW clients to help stock their pantries and supplement their diets beyond the food provided in their daily meal delivery.
Local Contributors
Starbucks regularly donates unsold but edible breakfast sandwiches, pastries and packaged snacks to YMOW for distribution to our clients. Donations from Starbucks in Ann Arbor are picked up every weekday and brought to clients with their daily meals.
“Our clients love the Starbucks items because they cannot regularly afford these items and do not have the means of getting to a Starbucks to purchase items independently. It’s an additional treat our clients look forward to.”
Whole Foods regularly donates fresh products that we offer to our clients to enoy in addition to their regular meal service.
What do the meals cost?
- The suggested contribution is $3 per meal. This helps us to cover the cost of the meal that is not met through other means of funding.
- This donation is voluntary and no one is turned away because of inability to pay.
- A statement will be sent out each month noting the number of meals received and the suggested donation.
- Donations can be placed in the envelope provided, mailed, or handed to the person who delivers your meals.
- Checks are preferred. A client can pay by credit card by calling our office at 734-487-9669 x-0.
Service policies and the appeals process.
Understanding the guidelines for meal delivery and how to address cancellations or appeal service termination decisions with Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.
Cancellation of Service
YMOW reserves the right to discontinue service to clients for a number of reasons, including:
- Repeated failure to be home to accept meal deliveries.
- Frequent cancellations after we have ordered meals.
- The client is no longer homebound, is physically able to shop and prepare meals, or does not meet other eligibility requirements.
- A service hold of more than 90 days, with no anticipated date for resuming services.
- The safety of our volunteers and/or staff is threatened. This includes pets that are not leashed or contained in another room when your meal is delivered.
- The client is unavailable for 6-month reassessments.
We understand that emergencies arise. To cancel a meal in case of an emergency situation, please call the YMOW office at (734) 487-9669 as soon as possible. If our office is closed, please leave a message on our voicemail.
YMOW will notify customers up to 30 days before service is ended.
The Appeals Process
Clients and caregivers can appeal a termination of meal service by requesting a review. This request must be made in writing and sent to the YMOW office at info@ymow.org, or 1110 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
At least two YMOW Advisory Board members will review all written appeals.
Further complaints, including claims of discrimination, may be filed with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, or the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
