Meals On Wheels arrives in Coral Springs to supply seniors with free meals

Coral Springs, Florida – For supper, how about meatballs and spaghetti? Even better, how about a complimentary feast of spaghetti and meatballs delivered right to your door?

According to Meals on Wheels South Florida Executive Director Marlene Gray, that has become a reality for some seniors in Coral Springs as the Meals on Wheels program recently arrived in the community.

According to Gray, the federal Older Americans Act has allowed the Meals on Wheels program to serve meals to senior citizens since 1984.

A representative for the city claims that the initiative was first funded in July by the City of Coral Springs through a $426,000 community development block grant.

The hunt is now on for additional clientele. “Our goal is to connect with clients who are unaware of the program,” stated Gray. “We wish to extend our reach.”

She currently provides complimentary meals to fifteen or sixteen residents every day of the week. Beneficiaries have to be unable to help themselves and are at least 55 years old. “We desire that no one experience hunger.”

Weekly, recipients are given seven dinners and seven breakfasts. On Mondays, volunteers do all the delivery work. “We might need more volunteers for a different day if we do add on more clients,” Gray stated.

It should come as no surprise that the spaghetti and meatballs dish is the most ordered item on the menu. Salmon, chicken, rice, and fish (tilapia) are among the popular dishes. Gray said, “And they all adore our mashed potatoes.”

Delivered Meals Food is prepared by a caterer in Fort Lauderdale for South Florida. Seniors make up their customers, thus nutrition and a healthful diet are given special consideration.

“We make sure the sodium level is not high because we are working with seniors,” Gray stated. “Everything is set up such that these are meals that are healthy for the elderly. The cuisine is rotated every six months.

Prabha and Basant Madnani, residents of Coral Springs, have been receiving their meals from the program since Prabha underwent two recent surgeries and lost her ability to cook. She likes the dinners, but she also likes the side dishes that are packaged to go with them. Her husband loves the fish feasts, but she likes the vegetarian dishes better.

A visiting nurse visited her home for follow-up care following her most recent operation in early September, during which she inquired about her living situation. The Meals on Wheels program was her suggestion. After the nurse made touch with the program, things started to happen.

Call 954-714-6943 or 954-714-6920 to find out more about the program or to apply for free meals. Click here to see their website.