Meals on Wheels reflects on 55 years of service
When Meals on Wheels of Boulder started in 1969, its client base didn’t exceed 10 people.
Now, 55 years later, the nonprofit delivers over 300 meals every weekday to hundreds of Boulder-area residents who want to enjoy nutritious food from the comfort of their homes.
“It has become a bigger operation,” said Meals on Wheels Boulder president and CEO Francea Phillips.
“It’s a serious business, and the job is important.”
Phillips is in her 30th year as president of the program, which delivers hot and frozen meals to clients regardless of age or income.
Phillips has overseen pivotal moments for the nonprofit over the course of her leadership, including the start of Project Homecoming in 2007 — a program that offers five free meals to people who have just been discharged from the hospital.
Phillips is committed to making the organization stand out as unique, whether that’s through the nonprofit’s handful of social ventures or by letting clients customize their meals.
There’s also no waitlist for its services, because, as Phillips sees it, no one should go without a meal if they’re hungry.
“There’s nothing more basic than food,” Phillips said. “I want every one of our clients to be treated as if they’re my mother, with dignity, care and some choice.”
The group works closely with its neighboring local Meals on Wheels programs of Longmont and Coal Creek.
The Boulder nonprofit’s delivery zone borders the areas served by the other two groups, covering Gunbarrel and the western edge of Louisville.
In 2020, Meals on Wheels Boulder moved into its current headquarters at 3701 Canfield St., leaving its longtime home in the West Age Well Center.
The new building includes plenty of room for food storage and meal preparation, as well as accommodating the nonprofit’s 382 volunteers.
Phillips said that a 27% increase in food costs in 2023 led to the organization spending $31,000 a month on food last year, a big expense without the help of state or federal funding. Donors, however, have been a consistent well of support in sustaining the nonprofit through the years.
“There’s such an amazing need (for us), even in a wealthy community like Boulder,” Phillips said. “And I think the donors start to see that the more they learn about us.”
In her time there, Phillips has also seen volunteers form lasting friendships with their clients by being a regular presence in their lives.
John Guzzo, who delivers meals for the nonprofit on Tuesdays, said there are several clients he’s bonded with during his decade as a driver.
“The whole experience is just direct, genuine and sincere,” Guzzo said. “People really just give of themselves in a joyful way.”
While 55 years is a big milestone for any business or nonprofit, Phillips said the occasion simply marks “one more day” of work for the dedicated staff.
“It’s just another day that we have new challenges and new goals and new aspirations,” Phillips said. “We have a long way to go.”
To learn more about the nonprofit, including volunteer and donation information, visit mowboulder.org.