There is a refreshing vibe of positivity and connection when you visit Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island headquarters in Providence. All around you is a spirit of pride and purpose for what is both a logistically complex and emotionally demanding mission. I was taken aback, not because it seemed unbelievable, but because the energy was genuinely infectious. Every person I greeted smiled and shared their role in helping to make this organization a growing Rhode Island success story.
My curiosity led me to Amy Garofalo, External Affairs and Mission Development Director for Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island. After my conversation with Amy, none of what I saw that day came as a surprise.
“We have a network of approximately 500 volunteers in RI and that has everything to do with the unique opportunity this work offers. Our volunteers take real ownership. They get to know the people they’re helping. They build real relationships. When someone starts with us they just keep becoming more committed, they can see and feel how much this matters,” Amy shared.
That sense of what matters fuels the entire operation. While the headquarters are in Providence, there are 22 dispatch sites, mostly senior centers, across the state. Every morning, four trucks roll into Providence. By the time the meals are delivered to each site, they’re already packed in bags with a route sheet, ready for drivers to pick up and head out. It’s a highly coordinated system that makes the daily connection between volunteers and older adults possible.
Founded in 1969 by gerontologist Joseph Brown, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island opened in Providence with a single route serving 17 homebound older adults. Since that small and humble start, MOWRI has seen a steady increase in need and services that mirrors Rhode Island’s shifting demographics. “Our older population is growing, our daily meal deliveries have increased by 77% compared to 2020,” Amy said. In 2024 Meals on Wheels Rhode Island delivered over 400,000 meals. “Today we offer home-delivered meals serving 1,500 older adults statewide, including Block Island, each weekday.”
At its core, home-delivered meals have always been the foundation of Meals on Wheels Rhode of Island, but the work stretches far beyond the meal itself. “Every delivery includes a brief safety-assurance, wellness check and an opportunity for social connection. We want equitable access to healthy, independent lives. We want to make sure people are safe at home,” Amy explained.
“Paid drivers visit five days a week, and volunteers build relationships through the routes they commit to. If a client seems unwell, confused, or something doesn’t look right, drivers are trained to report it to our Providence team, who follow established protocols. Each client has two emergency contacts, often neighbors or family living out of state, who are looped in when needed, and we call 911 in emergencies. Many clients first enter the program because a neighbor or social worker noticed someone struggling and made the call.”
Behind these small, human moments is a broader network working together to make them possible.
Today, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island stands as an example of what’s possible when a public-private-volunteer partnership pulls together, especially at a time when so many people feel disconnected. Federal and state funding remain critical to ongoing success, with the support of the Older Americans Act of 1965 forming the backbone of the program. Private donations from individuals combined with the commitment of 500 volunteers guided by a dedicated staff, extend the reach and amplify the impact of every meal delivered.
“The political and philanthropic environment changes but we are grateful for the ongoing commitment that has allowed us to grow. Through it all, we’ve stayed focused on doing the right thing, and we’ve been supported to innovate so our impact stays sustainable”, Amy explained.
This unique model has been a long-running, measurable success. A 2023 research brief titled The Case for Meals on Wheels: An Evidenced Based Solution to Senior Hunger and Isolation, notes that home-delivered meal programs “reduce nursing home use,” help older adults “remain living independently” and contribute to lower overall healthcare costs.
With the remarkable milestone of delivering its 21 millionth meal this year, and on the heels of successfully completing a 3-year strategic plan, Meals on Wheels of RI continues to look ahead with a bold new chapter guided by a commitment to “building resiliency and deepening impact.” MOWRI is evolving from a powerful community based organization into a meaningful healthcare partner. “Our Food Is Medicine program with health providers is linked to better health outcomes for people in Rhode Island. Better health outcomes are the key to sustainability for the people we serve, the healthcare system and, for the future of this work,” Amy said.
Beneath the structure, strategy and dedication, there are stories. Simple everyday moments that capture the real impact of this work.
“Donald, one of our clients, once told me that what he loves most is that his volunteer brings his newspaper from the sidewalk. It’s such a small act, but to him, it’s everything. And then there’s our ‘Senior Smiles’ effort. We invite groups who can’t commit to a route—corporate partners, community organizations and even Girl Scout troops—to make oversized cards filled with warm, encouraging messages. We tuck those cards into the meal bags. It gives people another way to connect with the mission—to do what they can—another way of saying. ‘You matter. Someone is thinking about you’.”
“And it’s not just the recipients who feel the impact. Serving others transforms a volunteer’s life too. Many of our volunteers are older adults or retirees who tell us they get as much out of the experience as the people they’re serving. We also have younger adults living with disabilities who find real mission and purpose in the simple act of knocking a door. For them, it’s meaningful. It’s connection. It matters.”
That simple message, someone is thinking about you, also fuels the widening scope of compassion for Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island. While their core work remains home-delivered meals, MOWRI is well positioned to serve more Rhode Islanders who could benefit from consistent nutrition and connection. Through innovative partnerships, MOWRI now reaches pregnant and postpartum women, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, adults under 60 with disabilities and others with barriers to accessing healthy food. MOWRI also started a summer lunch program for children on Block Island and this year added Tiverton. “These are areas you wouldn’t think of as food insecure. The numbers aren’t huge, we serve 40 kids in the two towns over 8 weeks, but there is a need,” she said.
As Amy reflected on our conversation, she emphasized something she hopes readers will take away: Meals on Wheels Rhode Island is a multi-program, Food is Medicine, innovation-driven organization serving more than 4,000 Rhode Islanders each year. “The all-inclusive cost of one meal is ten dollars, she said, that’s one meal, one wellness check, and one moment of human connection.”
Ten dollars comes to life through a partnership model that draws strength from every corner of the community: public funding, private philanthropy, healthcare partnerships, volunteers, families, and even children. It’s truly an example that it takes all walks of life to make a mission possible.
As services continue to expand to meet Rhode Island’s evolving needs, there is a sense of gratitude that mirrors growth. Gratitude that brings people together from every walk of life. It’s far more than food. It’s about health, safety, compassion and the quiet reassurance that someone is looking out for you. To learn more about becoming a volunteer or to donate, visit rimeals.org.
Helen Hames is an Aging Advisor and Founder of Age Ambassador, based in Rhode Island. She guides older adults and their families navigate the complex and emotional decisions that come with aging. Her work centers on helping people identify what matters most, whether planning to age at home or exploring senior living options. Helen was honored with the 2025 Senior Champion of the Year Award for her advocacy and personalized guidance that supports older adults in living fully through every season of life.