More than 12 percent of those living in the United States suffer from hunger, an issue that affects those in every racial demographic. However, food security disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic households. While 12 percent of American households experience hunger, the USDA reports 22.5 percent of Black households and 18.5 percent of Hispanic households face food insecurity, further revealing economic insecurity that disproportionately impacts people of color.

Meals on Wheels Chicago launches a new series of cooking demonstrations to promote health and well-being among seniors. Classes will feature renowned local chefs who will help empower seniors with culinary skills, promote nutrition, and foster a sense of community through the joy of cooking.

What we accomplished together in 2023.

A sincere thank you to every single person who contributed and made our Giving Tuesday a success! We are so grateful for your selflessness and your generosity.

We need your help to stock the shelves at the December Nourish Chicago Pantry! Seniors facing hunger are relying on Meals on Wheels Chicago for their food this month, and next Tuesday hundreds will line up at a local senior center to receive fresh produce, meat, dairy, and pantry goods. Please help us deliver on our promise to keep them nourished this holiday season!

A sincere thank you to every single person who contributed and made our Giving Tuesday a success! We are so grateful for your selflessness and your generosity.

On Friday October 20th 2023, The Geraghty played host to The Celebrity Chef Ball, a star-studded event that brought together over 60 top chefs and mixologists, including distinguished Michelin, James Beard, and Bib Gourmand award winners. The culinary gala, held on October 20, aimed to support homebound seniors grappling with food insecurity. The event was a resounding success, setting a record for fundraising and contributing to Meals on Wheels Chicago's ongoing mission to eradicate hunger and isolation among seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Fresh fruit and vegetables make the most delicious and healthy meals. Chicago Chef and Corporate and Community Relations Manager, Cory Morris has been busy putting his skills to good use. Using his 23 years of cooking experience, Morris is hosting cooking demonstrations at the Meals on Wheels Chicago’s Nourish Chicago Pop-Up Produce Markets at Regional City Senior Centers.

In June 2022 Meals on Wheels Chicago opened Nourish Chicago Pantry to support seniors struggling with food insecurity. Today we are announcing the expansion of the program with Nourish Chicago Pop-Up Produce Markets! These events will feature a variety of fresh produce, providing the same grocery-store quality items for seniors in need as the regular Nourish Chicago Pantry.

Meals on Wheels Chicago is honored to have been awarded a $15,000 Merit Grant from Impact Grants Chicago. We were among eight Chicago nonprofit finalists chosen from 125 organizations who submitted Letters of Inquiry. We were selected after an extensive and thorough six-month review process, including financial analysis, grant and project review, site visit, and presentation to the members of Impact Grants Chicago at The Grant Awards Celebration on May 31st at Venue West. These funds will be used to support the Nourish Chicago Food Pantry and Pop-Up Markets, providing fresh produce and other groceries to seniors in need.

SAVE THE DATE for this year’s Celebrity Chef Ball!

On Friday, October 20th at The Geraghty, dozens of the city’s top chefs and mixologists will come together to create a special evening of fine dining exclusively for supporters of Meals on Wheels Chicago. This event features a unique interactive dining experience, with chefs preparing and serving a six-course meal.

On April 27, 2023, over 400 beer and food lovers joined us at Theater on the Lake for the return of Chicago on Tap! The annual event raises crucial support for our programs and this year, 10% of all proceeds are going towards stocking the shelves of our Nourish Chicago Food Pantry and Pop-Up Produce Markets!

Together, we raised enough to provide over 13,500 meals!

Huge thank you to our sponsors, attendees, donors, volunteers, chefs, and brewmasters who made this event possible. The support from our community is inspiring and we are so grateful to everyone who helped us pull off this event.

Meals on Wheels Chicago is now helping more seniors find nutrition at Nourish Chicago Pantry! This program improves seniors’ quality of life and health by providing access to quality grocery items, including over 70% fresh produce, proteins, pantry, and wellness essentials. These are not leftovers or donated items we find in the back of our pantry shelves. Instead, each of the 40-50 items available at every event is ordered fresh just for Nourish Chicago Pantry guests. Seniors aged 55 and over are welcome to attend all Nourish Chicago Pantry events.

As 2022 comes to an end, I am thinking about everything that makes the holiday season so special. For many of us, it’s a chance to slow down, spend quality time with each other, and create new memories around the dinner table. Good food is such an important part of shared experiences, connection, and joy. Because of your life-saving gifts of nutritious meals, you will make celebrations across the city a little brighter for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

On Oct 14th over 50 top chefs and 400 guests raised critical funds for Meals on Wheels Chicago.

Over 50 top Chicago chefs, including many Michelin, James Beard, and Bib Gourmand awardees, worked together to create a truly unique experience for supporters of Meals on Wheels Chicago. Thanks to their hard work and the unprecedented generosity of 400 guests in attendance at The Geraghty on October 14, 2022, Celebrity Chef Ball raised enough to provide 135,000 meals to food-insecure seniors and individuals with disabilities this holiday season.

To celebrate the Meals on Wheels Chicago program, dozens of top chefs and mixologists will come together to create a special evening of fine dining.

Learn more about Chef Zimmerman’s enthusiastic support for this event and Meals on Wheels Chicago’s mission of providing seniors with access to nourishing food.

CBS Chicago spreads the word about the new Nourish Chicago Pantry, open every fourth Tuesday of the month at Central West Senior Center at 2102 West Ogden.

Read Board President Shannon Murphy’s interview with CBS News Chicago about how Meals on Wheels is putting health on the pantry shelf through Nourish Chicago Pantry.