The seniors we serve are parents, grandparents, veterans, former educators, and much more. Full of experience and wisdom, seniors deserve to age with dignity, respect, and independence.
They were there for us, now it’s our turn to serve them.
Join the movement to serve senior wellness in our community. We are depending on Meals on Wheels. We are depending on YOU.
For Lee, whose hands once built planes from scratch, but can no longer open a jar of jam, we are there.
This eighty-five-year-old veteran is a one-time educator and life-long learner. With a Ph.D. in Education, he has shaped the minds of so many. Through conversations with volunteers and visitors, he continues to share his wealth of knowledge.
A man of many talents, Lee spent his spare time devoted to fixing vehicles. From cars and motorcycles to planes, he did it all. Lee spends his time at a local hangar, where he is surrounded by the planes he loves, including his very own plane he was building from the bottom up. As the effects of aging catch up to him and with a recent leg injury, Lee has had to put a halt to his project.
Finding it harder to get out of bed, Lee relies on Meals on Wheels Riverside for fresh, daily meals delivered by a friendly face. With the nutrition he needs, and the comfort that he wants, Lee can remain independent in his home, by his plane, where he wants to be.
With the health benefits he has experienced since receiving our service, Lee has high hopes that he’ll return to his project one day.
Lee, like hundreds of other seniors, deserves to live a life with health, dignity, and independence. Stand up for Lee, one-time teachers, servicemen, and senior residents in your community who need you.
Eighty-two-year-old, Shirley, and her late husband are army veterans who raised a family of service members. Her son is a dedicated fireman in Big Bear, while her grandson is a Long Beach fireman.
Shirley takes pride in keeping her home in top shape. She loves a little self-care and pampering herself too! Despite being wheelchair-bound and living alone, Shirley says her Meals on Wheels volunteers help her feel safe and taken care of. Volunteers often go above and beyond for Shirley, by taking out the trash and sweeping a bit to ensure her home is nice and clean how she likes it. After a life of service, and raising servicemen, Shirley deserves to stay in her home, where she is most comfortable.
Yvonne was a hairdresser for over 20 years and, at 80 years old, still takes pride in maintaining and styling her hair. She loves living right next door to the beauty salon at her senior complex.
She frequently has friends from the living complex over, but her best friend will always be her Chihuahua (who receives free pet food). Yvonne receives special meals that cater to her diabetic meals. While she says she hates being diabetic, she does love the sugar-free cookies that sometimes come with her meals. Her dog loves his meals too!
Sixty-four year old, Jorge, suffers from an unfortunate brain injury and now has trouble speaking clearly. This does not hinder his love of meeting new people, however. Upon meeting new people, Jorge likes to spell out their names so that he will remember them.
His condition causes him to have trouble speaking. When speaking English, Jorge takes longer to get his words out clearly. In his native language of Spanish, however, he has a much easier time holding a conversation. With a father from Japan and a mother from China, Jorge was born and raised in Peru. He embraces his diverse background and enjoys being able to speak multiple languages (he speaks four!). Whatever language it may be, Jorge enjoys striking up conversations with both new and familiar volunteers! He says his daily visits are his favorite part of Meals on Wheels.
Patrick is an 84-year-old Army veteran who lives alone. He very much enjoys his independence and still likes to take walks around the block. Patrick is soft-spoken, but very appreciative to volunteers when they drop off his meals. For three years, he has always greeted them with a smile and warm thank you. While he enjoys being independent, Patrick says he likes seeing a friendly face daily, and knowing someone is checking on his safety.
Diane and her husband, Jim, are fairly new clients of Meals on Wheels Riverside. Diane, 73, says her favorite memories were made at the beach. She hopes that one day, despite her and her wheelchair-bound husband’s struggle to move around like they used to, they will make it out to Laguna Beach again.
Diane also loves fruits and salads. With age, Diane has lost a lot of her appetite and says she also missed being able to eat a lot of the food she loved. Her home is where she wants to be. With her Meals on Wheels service, along with in-home care, Diane and her husband feel safe and taken care of, so they do not have to leave the home they love.