Blog

Since first signing on as a YMOW volunteer in 1995, Bob Nowlan has delivered thousands of meals, met hundreds of people, made dozens of friends and taken countless bags of garbage to the curb.  “I don’t know how much garbage I’ve taken out over the years,” said Bob, but he does know that each of ...

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 ...

Thanks to generous donations from Domino’s Pizza, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and YMOW supporters, every YMOW client was treated to a bag of gifts this holiday season. Blankets, word puzzle books, pet toys and hand sanitizer were among the bounty of items distributed in celebration of the holidays. ...

Vera Felk-Spraetz looked forward to her weekly visits with the folks on her mini route just as much as the clients looked forward to her knock on their door each Wednesday. Then, everything changed. The new distancing rules and the need for a mask wasn’t the hard part, Vera said. The hard part was and ...

September 21-25 is National Falls Prevention Week – a great time to remind ourselves of the simple but important things we can do to prevent injury or even death from a fall. Did you know? • One in 4 Americans over 65 falls each year. • Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in ...

When the world around him began to shut down in March 2020, Ronald Youngblood wanted a way to help his community cope with a strange new reality. A friend suggested he help deliver meals for Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels, and Ronald jumped right on board.  Ronald’s volunteer training was a little more intense than in ...

Ann Arbor artist Stephen Cain has a thing or two in common with the people who rely on the support of Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.  At 78, he is at increased risk of COVID-19, and at least for now, he’s staying close to home. But unlike many of the seniors served by YMOW, Cain can ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought changes to nearly every part of our lives. Access to food is one thing that shouldn’t change.  YMOW has protocols in place to ensure our homebound neighbors continue to receive the food they need while remaining safe and healthy. 1. Staff whose work does not require them to be in ...

More than anything else about his job, Joe loves to see the smiles on the faces of the people on his Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels route. “I just get a kick out of how happy they are,” said Joe, who delivers meals as part of the YMOW staff. But safety protocols due to the COVID-19 ...