MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA

The meals on wheels america membership and advocacy teams provide direct support to our membership of community-based meals on wheels providers in a variety of ways. This includes federal and grassroots advocacy, education, training and networking opportunities, as well ensuring members are aware of and engaged in all the program and capacity-building resources and support we provide. The membership team recruits and retains members, ensures members are actively engaged in our initiatives and offerings, and provides relevant information, learning and networking opportunities designed to strengthen and support the network. Learning and development offerings range from virtual webinars, symposiums and networking opportunities, access to a peer-to-peer online forum, and the four-day annual gathering of senior nutrition professions each august. The advocacy team responds to the needs of our membership and the seniors they serve to set annual federal policy priorities, create information and resources to support individual member advocacy efforts, share opportunities for engagement around executive and legislative policy matters, and leads direct federal advocacy efforts on behalf of the membership in the areas of senior hunger and social isolation. We educate the administration and members of congress and their staff about the critical assistance provided by local meals on wheels providers and work to advance legislation to strengthen and expand access to home-delivered and congregate senior nutrition programs, increase federal funding to meet the needs of a rapidly growing senior population and rising costs, and better support volunteers and charitable giving that are essential for the work of our network. The advocacy team has also worked closely with the administration for community living and other federal agencies to improve the implementation of federal policies and maximize the effectiveness and impact of critical programs that serve the older adult population.