Why We Deliver
Providing Access to Nutritious Food While Promoting Dignity, Well-Being, and Self Sufficiency
It starts with the meal...
2023 Impact
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550 hot, nutritious meals a day
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400 frozen meals each weekend
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875 breakfasts each week
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200 bags of groceries each month
201,707
Home Delivered Meals
Served in 2023
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To enrich the lives of older (60+) and homebound adults in South Metro Denver by providing nutritious meals and services that promote dignity, well-being, and independence.
Our Mission:
but is truly so much MORE
Isolation fades with the ring of each doorbell and our volunteer's familiar smile.
These visits offer a connection to the community and a sense of security and comfort knowing that someone is checking on them.
In the United States...
In 2021, one in eight older adults (age 60+) experienced hunger in the United States.
Before the pandemic, 7.7 million (age 65+) were socially isolated.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls loneliness a crisis on the order of obesity or smoking, with even greater consequences for health. Loneliness increases the risk of stroke by 32%, heart disease by 29%; odds of dementia go up by 50%.
- Source: Harvard Public Health
In Colorado...
One in seven Coloradans (13.8%) is age 65 or older.
By 2050, this will change to one in five.
by 2030, the Denver Metro Area’s population of adults age 75+ is expected to increase 94%
- Source: DRCOG’s Community Assessment Survey
By 2050, the number of older adults in Colorado is expected to double to 1.7 million.
That’s more than the current populations of Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora combined.
Our Model
Increasing access to healthy, safe, and affordable food can improve nutrition and health across a person’s lifespan. Our model is based on findings from a study funded by the AARP and conducted by Brown University, comparing seniors who received a hot daily meal compared to those who received weekly frozen meals.
Clients who received hot, daily meals were more likely to exhibit:
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Improvement in mental health.
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Improvement in self-rated overall health.
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Improvement in the ability to maintain a healthy weight.
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Reductions in the rate of falls.
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Improvements in feelings of isolation and loneliness.
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Decreases in worry about being able to remain in home.
Our meal service decreases food insecurity and malnutrition, which leads to fewer chronic illnesses, like asthma, diabetes, and arthritis. Our daily volunteer visits counteract the isolation many seniors and homebound, disabled adults experience, which also leads to a decrease in physical illnesses.​​
We deliver meals five days a week to maximize interaction opportunities between our clients and volunteers. The drivers notify us if there is a concern regarding client wellbeing. We follow up on these concerns by communicating with the client, their emergency contact, or if necessary, a welfare check from local law enforcement.
Our Clients
Demographics
During our thorough intake process, we obtain our clients’ pertinent demographics including income range as defined by HUD Guidelines. We ask clients to contribute to the cost of the meals if they are able, but we never turn anyone away for financial reasons.
73% of our clients’ meals are fully or partially subsidized.
91% of our clients are below
the 300% Federal Poverty Level.
Age Breakdown:
93% of our clients are over the age of 60
with 49% of those over the age of 80.
7% of our clients are under the age of 60 and homebound due to a disability,
such as MS, stroke, brain injury,
or mental health issues.
Gender Breakdown:
Ethnicity Breakdown:
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Client Survey Responses
74% reported our home-delivered meal is their main meal of the day.
68% of our clients stated that if home delivered meals were not available it would be difficult to get a meal from another source.
88% of clients said the meal program has improved their overall quality of life.
85% agreed the meal program has allowed them to remain independent in their own home.
85% said our services reduce their level of stress.
72% agreed the meal program improved their physical health.
81% said our services make them feel less lonely and isolated.
95% rated the quality of the hot entrees as good to excellent.
80% reported it increased their energy and helped to maintain a healthy weight.
76% agreed home delivered meals provide healthier food than they can prepare.
Some clients qualify for Colorado’s food assistance program (SNAP); however, 34% of our clients reported they did not have enough money or food assistance to buy the food they need.