Health & Wellness Support
Could You Manage on $47 per Week?
The majority of our senior clients live at or below the poverty level. This means that after covering fixed expenses, they have only $47 per week to spend on food, clothing, cleaning products, and other personal care items. This is simply not enough.
Freshly washed clothes, healthy teeth, and clean dishes are necessary parts of living a healthy and long life. But, with fixed income, seniors must forgo these items for food and medications. Beyond food, Meals on Wheels Chicago provides essential health and wellness items to seniors in need.
About the Program
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Wellness packs include personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and other household items necessary for a happy and healthy life.
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Wellness packs are offered regularly at the Nourish Chicago Pantry, which is hosted at the Central West Senior Center on the fourth Tuesday of every month. We are able to offer Wellness Packs through the generosity of our corporate sponsors. Therefore, Wellness Packs are only offered when a sponsor supports the program.
Our corporate sponsors also partner with Meals on Wheels Chicago to host Bingo events, cooking demonstrations, and other social activities. Sometimes Wellness Packs are distributed at those events as well. Visit our Events Calendar to learn more!
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No, Wellness Packs are available to seniors visiting the Nourish Chicago Pantry or another Meals on Wheels sponsored event at no cost. The costs are covered through donations and corporate sponsorships.
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Meals on Wheels Chicago relies on the generosity of our corporate partners to provide wellness items and household essentials to seniors. The majority of our senior clients live below the poverty level, meaning they have less than $47 per week to spend on food, clothing, medicine, and other necessities. This is simply not enough. Dental supplies, cleaning products, and laundry supplies are essential for a healthy life. In addition to monetary donations, corporate partners can support this program by volunteering to pack the supplies for distribution.
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Wellness Pack packing events are a great volunteer opportunity to bring your company together for a great cause. In addition to volunteering, this program is only made possible by the support of corporate sponsors. Contact Meals on Wheels Chicago to schedule your wellness packing event, and learn more about sponsorship here.
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In addition to Wellness Packs, the Nourish Chicago Pantry runs six raffle giveaways every month. The raffle baskets are wellness themed and include items ranging from tea kettles to laundry baskets full of supplies to drug store gift cards.
An important part of wellness is socialization. Meals on Wheels Chicago coordinates social events such as bingo, dances, and cooking demonstrations, all of which have a focus on wellness. For instance, cooking demonstrations include healthy eating tips, and bingo prizes are always wellness items such as dish soap.