Fifty Years of Providing Meals

Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels recently delivered its two millionth meal as it celebrates 50 years of delivering hot, affordable meals to seniors and homebound community members.

“We’ve never missed a day since 1971, when we had just 18 clients and two drivers,” says Dan Kronstadt, co-president of the nonprofit’s board of directors. “Today, over 150 clients receive meals freshly prepared by the Valle Verde retirement community.

“We have about 80 volunteers who make deliveries seven days a week – including every holiday – to people of all ages who are unable to shop and cook for themselves, yet want to remain independent.”

José Ornelas, who has been a client since 2010, was the two millionth recipient. One of the volunteer drivers who regularly sees him donated a month of free meals to commemorate the milestone.

In 2021, 288 clients received meals – some for short periods of time following an illness or hospital state, and others on a long-term basis. There are no age requirements to receive meals.

Meals on Wheels’ youngest client is 24, and there are five who are over the age of 100.

The Santa Barbara organization is one of 5,000 Meals on Wheels programs across the country. Back in 1971 two local women, Madeline Blickley and Lilla Burgess, saw a need and started a six-month pilot program through the Community Action Commission.

Meals were prepared by the Sweden House restaurant, and the local American Red Cross arranged for volunteer drivers. The program’s future was uncertain until a cashier’s check for $100,000 arrived in the mail from an anonymous donor.

Valle Verde took over the cooking 30 years ago.

Food for thought, indeed…