Our Impact
Our Impact
More Than a Meal. A Healthier, More Connected Life at Home.
Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois provides more than nutritious food. We help older adults and people with disabilities access the nourishment, human connection, wellness checks, and community resources they need to live healthy, active lives.
Every meal delivered is an opportunity to strengthen nutrition. Every visit is an opportunity to notice a change in someone's well-being. Every connection can help someone feel less alone.
Our Reach
Every day, our staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters work together to reach thousands of older adults and people with disabilities throughout suburban Cook, Will, Grundy, and Kendall counties.
1.1M+
Meals served
9,700+
Older adults served
1,000+
Volunteers engaged
55,000+
Volunteer hours contributed
Statistics reflect the most recent data available as of 2025.
But the number of meals we deliver is only part of the story.
The real impact is what those meals and connections make possible.
Our Results
We Measure More Than Meals
MOWFNI evaluates how our programs affect the people and communities we serve. Our results show that our programs provide more than access to food—they create opportunities for connection, participation, and support.
90%
of Community Café participants report being satisfied with the social connections they find at MOWFNI cafés.
Our cafés are designed to be welcoming community spaces where older adults can share a nutritious meal, participate in activities, and build relationships.
78%
of Café participants attend for more than just a meal.
A meal can be the reason someone walks through the door. Connection, activity, and community are what can keep them coming back.
85.5%
of clients reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with their overall MOWFNI experience.
Client feedback helps us understand what is working and where we can improve.
84%
of participants reported positive cultural inclusivity in our 2025 evaluation.
This represents an increase from 40% in the earlier evaluation and reflects our ongoing work to make our programs welcoming and inclusive.
81%
of participants reported feeling empowered to share feedback with MOWFNI leadership.
We believe the people we serve should have a voice in shaping the programs designed for them.
What Research Shows
Meals on Wheels Can Affect Health Beyond Nutrition
MOWFNI's programs are part of a broader evidence base showing that home-delivered meals can provide important health, social, and quality-of-life benefits for older adults.
Research cited by Meals on Wheels America has found associations between receiving Meals on Wheels and lower risks of several adverse health outcomes.
31% lower likelihood
of hospitalization
25% lower likelihood
of requiring nursing-home support
13% lower likelihood
of an emergency-room visit
23% lower likelihood
of experiencing a fall
22% lower likelihood
of difficulty taking medications as prescribed
50% fewer
reported symptoms of depression
29% improvement
in self-reported health
The Benefits Go Beyond the Numbers
A 2025 study published in JAMA Network Open examined interviews with older adults receiving home-delivered meals and found that participants described benefits extending beyond nutrition—including greater food security, social connection, well-being, independence, and support for caregivers.
The findings reinforce an important part of MOWFNI's approach: a home-delivered meal can be more than food. It can be a point of connection, a wellness check, and an important support for remaining independent at home.
The findings above come from research on Meals on Wheels and Older Americans Act nutrition programs nationally. They are provided as context for the broader evidence base and are not MOWFNI-specific outcomes unless explicitly identified.
Connection Is Part of the Intervention
A Meal Can Also Be a Check-In, a Conversation, and a Lifeline.
For an older adult living alone, a Meals on Wheels delivery may be one of the few regular opportunities for face-to-face contact.
Our delivery drivers don't simply leave food at the door. They provide a friendly wellness check that can help monitor a participant's well-being and reduce feelings of isolation.
That connection matters.
Research on Meals on Wheels programs has found:
36% lower
reported loneliness
25% lower
reported feelings of isolation
12% lower
anxiety
The evidence reinforces something our volunteers and staff see every day: nutrition and connection are deeply intertwined.
Supporting Independence
Helping Older Adults Stay Where They Thrive Best: Home
MOWFNI provides nutritious meals, wellness checks, and connections to community resources that can help older adults remain safely and independently at home.
We provide:
- Nutritious meals designed to support healthy aging
- Regular wellness checks
- A reliable connection to the community
- Community dining opportunities
- Social connection and activities
- Connections to additional community resources
- Emergency preparedness meals
- Support for individuals who may face barriers to accessing nutritious food
For home-delivered meal participants, service is available without regard to ability or willingness to pay.
We operate with a "no wait list" practice, which means eligible new clients can begin receiving services within 24–48 hours, helping ensure that people who need support do not have to wait for help.
Meeting a Critical Need
The People We Serve Are Often Among Those Most at Risk
Nearly half of MOWFNI clients are identified as being at high nutritional risk using the Illinois Department on Aging screening tool.
Our clients also include many older adults who may be particularly vulnerable to isolation and declining health.
62%
of clients are age 75 or older
31%
of our clients live alone
These numbers help explain why our model is about more than food.
For someone living alone and facing nutritional risk, a meal delivered to the home can also provide a regular point of human contact and an opportunity to identify changes in well-being.
The Need is Growing: As the baby boomer generation ages, Northern Illinois is experiencing an unprecedented demographic shift. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and local planning reports from the Metropolitan Planning Council, 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 or older by 2030, rapidly expanding the population of homebound adults who require nutrition and daily check-ins.
Growing Homelessness: Adults 50 and older are the fastest-growing age group experiencing homelessness in the U.S., with their numbers estimated to triple by 2030. Housing instability can compound challenges with food access, health, and independence.
The Danger of Social Isolation: Lacking social connection is not just a lifestyle concern, it can also be a severe health risk. As noted in the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy highlighted that "lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day." Our daily volunteer visits provide a critical human connection that protects mental and physical health.
Targeting of Vulnerable Seniors: Older adults are often targeted by financial fraud and scams, losing billions annually nationwide according to the FBI Elder Fraud Report. Isolated and homebound seniors living alone can be particularly vulnerable.
Underfunding from Philanthropy: Despite older adults representing the fastest-growing age group in the country, analysis from Candid shows that less than 1% of all philanthropic grantmaking nationwide goes toward senior causes (Giving Compass). Private donor support is essential to fill this massive philanthropic shortfall.
Federal Funding Shortfalls: According to Meals on Wheels America, chronic underfunding of the federal Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program—combined with rising operational costs—has forced programs nationwide to establish waitlists. Millions of vulnerable seniors across the country remain on waiting lists for basic nutrition and care.
Prevention Is an Investment
More than a meal. An investment in health, independence, and community.
Home-delivered meals are an important part of a broader system of preventive, community-based services that helps older adults remain healthy and independent at home.
National research from ADvancing States estimates that every $1 invested in Older Americans Act aging services generates $3.39 in community value and taxpayer savings—with home-delivered meals generating an estimated 3.87× return on investment.
For MOWFNI, this means every meal we deliver can be part of something much bigger: helping older adults access nutritious food, stay connected, identify needs earlier, and remain safely at home.
These are national estimates for Older Americans Act programs and home-delivered meal services, not a calculation of MOWFNI's individual ROI.
Powered by Our Community
Our impact is made possible by people who show up.
Volunteers are at the heart of MOWFNI’s mission. A recent survey by the University of St. Francis found that 98% of our volunteer drivers rate their experience as good or excellent. Flexible scheduling, meaningful social connection, and a supportive community are among the reasons our volunteers value their time with MOWFNI.
With more than 11 volunteers for every staff member, our model demonstrates the power of community-driven care—bringing neighbors together to help older adults stay nourished, connected, and independent at home.
98%
of volunteer drivers rate their experience good or excellent
11:1+
volunteer-to-staff ratio
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the impact of Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois?
Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois provides nutritious meals, wellness checks, social connection, and access to community resources for older adults and people with disabilities. Our programs are designed to support healthy aging, reduce isolation, and help people remain active and independent at home.
Does Meals on Wheels do more than provide food?
Yes. Home-delivered meal participants receive more than a nutritious meal. Delivery drivers provide a friendly check-in that can help monitor wellness and provide regular human connection. MOWFNI also operates Community Cafés that provide opportunities for nutritious meals, socialization, activities, and community engagement.
Can Meals on Wheels reduce the risk of hospitalization?
Research on Meals on Wheels recipients has found a 31% lower likelihood of hospitalization following enrollment. This is a finding from research on the broader Meals on Wheels model and should not be interpreted as a measured hospitalization reduction specifically among MOWFNI participants.
Can Meals on Wheels help older adults remain at home?
Meals on Wheels programs are designed to support older adults in the community and may help delay the need for long-term care or assisted living. Research cited by Meals on Wheels America has found that recipients were 25% less likely to require nursing-home support during the 180 days following enrollment.
Does Meals on Wheels help with loneliness?
Research has found meaningful reductions in loneliness and social isolation among Meals on Wheels participants. MOWFNI also measures social connection through its Community Café programs. In MOWFNI's evaluation, 90% of Café participants reported being satisfied with the social connections they found at MOWFNI cafés.
How does MOWFNI measure its impact?
MOWFNI uses program participation data, client surveys, program evaluations, and other measures to understand the reach and effectiveness of its services. We also use independent research to provide context for the broader health and social outcomes associated with Meals on Wheels programs.
Who does Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois serve?
MOWFNI serves older adults and people with disabilities throughout suburban Cook, Will, Grundy, and Kendall counties. Home-delivered Meals on Wheels services generally serve people age 60 and older who meet program eligibility requirements, as well as certain spouses and people with disabilities.
How quickly can someone begin receiving Meals on Wheels?
Eligible new clients may be able to begin receiving services within 24–48 hours. MOWFNI maintains a no-waitlist approach for eligible services and does not deny service based on a participant's ability or willingness to pay.
How can I support the impact of Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois?
Your donation helps provide nutritious meals, wellness checks, community connections, and resources to older adults and people with disabilities throughout Northern Illinois.
Donate today and help make more than a meal possible.