RECAPPING ALL OF THE MAGIC FROM ORLANDO

Whether or not you joined us in Orlando, we hope the following Conference materials will be valuable as you calibrate your goals and inspire your teams throughout the coming year. Together, these materials recap big moments, key learnings and the most important information available.

PLUS: It’s not too early to mark your calendar for next year’s Annual Conference in Nashville, TN, August 31 - September 2, 2016!

Here are what some attendees at the 2015 Conference had to say about their experience:

"It was awesome, I left the Conference ready to go back to my agency and plan new and exciting things."

"This was a phenomenally great Conference this year and each keynote speaker was topical, exciting and inspiring!"

"It was a great opportunity to re-energize and connect to the mission."

"I learned so much about the organization and got to meet so many incredible people!"

VIEW THE OPENING KEYNOTE BY ELLIE HOLLANDER, Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander kicked off this year’s gathering with her version of a Meals on Wheels "State of the Union" address. While highlighting many of the impressive strides we made as a network over the last year, Ellie used the majority of her time to lay out plans for our collaborative efforts to spark greater vigor and vitality into the Meals on Wheels movement.

RECAPPING: FIVE WAYS WE WILL SPARK THE MOVEMENT TOGETHER

We will fight to shore up the core federal funding that supports our programs.
We will carve out a permanent place for ourselves in a rapidly evolving healthcare system.
We will secure more funding for Meals on Wheels programs across the country by continuing to quantify our economic value through evidence-based research.
We will expand our meal offerings to meet future client demand and expectations.
We will recapture the hearts and minds of the American people, inspiring them to rise to the call of their vulnerable senior neighbors and offer unprecedented support to Meals on Wheels.

VIEW THE KEYNOTE – NANCY LUBLIN, DoSomething.org

As the CEO and "Chief Old Person" of the largest organization for young people and social change in America, DoSomething.org, and the Founder of both Dress for Success and Crisis Text Line, Nancy Lublin knows a thing or two about sparking a movement. Watch Nancy’s candid, and sometimes comical, keynote on her career journey, experience harnessing the extraordinary energy of teens and outlook for Meals on Wheels.

VIEW THE AD COUNCIL UPDATE – HEIDI ARTHUR, Ad Council & TOM GIBSON, Anomaly

As Senior Vice President for Campaigns at the Ad Council, Heidi Arthur recently began to focus much of her energy and expertise on the newly-announced Meals on Wheels America Ad Council campaign, honing in on the challenges our Members face each and every day. Watch as she and Tom Gibson, the Planning Director of our acclaimed marketing communications agency Anomaly, articulate how we’re working together to spark support through a powerful, nationwide Public Service campaign.

ADDITIONAL MEMBER-ONLY CONFERENCE RESOURCES AVAILABLE

You can access and download all of the Conference handouts, slide decks and resources at www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/2015-conference-resources.

User Name: Orlando2015
Password: SparkMOW

LIVE COOKING DEMO RECIPE AVAILABLE

This year’s Annual Conference included a first-ever live cooking demo with Chef Richard West of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. Chef Richard artfully prepared short ribs with fried rice (that we all got to enjoy for the closing lunch) and shared how Meals on Wheels programs can easily modify the recipe with Asian and Latin applications to meet the diverse tastes and preferences of your client base. Download the recipe!

SPARK INSPIRATION ALL OVER AGAIN

Check out our Facebook photo album to relive all of the inspiring moments from this year’s Conference! We also want to congratulate our big #ThrowbackThursday (#TBT) contest winner. Elaine Clark from Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services in Walnut Creek, CA, shared the moment that sparked her Meals on Wheels passion.

“Seeing my then 80-year-old friend sitting at home alone, with the curtains drawn, eating nothing but oatmeal and saying, ‘don’t worry about me.’ How could I not become involved?”

Elaine won a free full Conference registration for next year’s Annual Conference in Nashville, TN, August 31 - September 2, 2016. Congratulations, Elaine!

THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK

We want to thank those of you who attended for taking the time to complete our Conference Evaluation Survey. Rollanda Johnson of Decatur Catholic Charities Meals On Wheels in Decatur, IL, was randomly selected to receive a free full Conference registration from next year’s Annual Conference for completing the survey. Congratulations, Rollanda!

We hope to see you all in Nashville!

APPLY FOR YOUR PIECE OF MORE THAN $500,000 IN MEMBER FUNDING

Meals on Wheels America’s Driving the Movement grant program, powered by Subaru, is making over $500,000 available in grants for Member programs. The purpose of this program is to increase your organization’s measurable impact and fill the funding gaps needed to finance some of your most pressing needs. Member programs in good standing as of October 15, 2015 are eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000 between now and 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday October 16, 2015.

STATE ALLOCATIONS

Grants are available to Member programs based on Subaru’s state allocations. Eleven states (Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont) have already exceeded their state’s allocated funds through grants made to, or for the benefit of, Member programs from 2014-2015 “Share the Love Event” funds. Additionally, very limited funding is available in Alaska, Kansas and West Virginia. Member programs in the states mentioned above are still invited to apply for Driving the Movement grants; however, awards in those states will only be granted to the extent that funds are available and/or to which funds are not requested and/or used in other states.

APPLICATION MADE EASY

The application includes six questions, each of which can be completed in just one or two paragraphs. Reporting requirements will also be minimal. Awards will be given to address a wide range of funding needs that include:

Removing individuals from waiting lists;
Expanding community outreach to identify seniors who are in need but unaware of the program’s services;
Advertising for volunteers;
Training volunteers; and/or
Purchasing new equipment – primarily for kitchens.

GET STARTED TODAY

For more information on state allocations and funding available, please visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/grants.

Access the application through our online grant management system
Download the Request for Proposal
Review the Terms and Conditions

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Chief Membership Officer Keith Greene at keith@mealsonwheelsamerica.org or 571-339-1610.

COMING SOON: 8TH ANNUAL SUBARU SHARE THE LOVE EVENT

Meals on Wheels America is proud to once again be one of the four national charities benefiting from Subaru’s wildly successful Share the Love Event. Again this year, Subaru will donate $250 for every car sold or leased between November 19, 2015 and January 2, 2016 to the customer’s choice between the four selected national charities and up to two Hometown Charities. Members have the opportunity to receive greater support by forging partnerships with their local Subaru retailers during this time to raise awareness for Meals on Wheels.

GET STARTED NOW

While we’re working on completing a helpful planning toolkit and Share the Love 101 webinar, now is a great time for you to reach out to your local Subaru retailer to plan awareness events that will take place during Share the Love. If you’re already a pro, it should be an easy conversation! If you’re looking to explore a partnership for the first time, check out Subaru's helpful Reach Out Guide.

Keep an eye out for an official launch email including access to the toolkit and information on our popular Share the Love 101 webinar, the program’s grant opportunity and much more!

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

JOURNAL OF NUTRITION IN GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS MAKES THE
CASE FOR SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMS

You can never have enough evidence ready in your back pocket for making your case for the value of Meals on Wheels. The Special Issue of the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics provides a wealth of research-based information on the impact of Meals on Wheels programs and best-in-class practices, including:

Benchmarking the success of home-delivered meal programs;
Improving data collection and measurement;
Training nutrition program professionals;
Supporting transitions from hospitals to the home; and
Findings from local program case studies.

You can use all of this great information to support your program – both to illustrate your impact and to find more effective ways to serve your seniors. Free access to several other relevant articles included in the Special Issue can be found here, ready to share with your colleagues and supporters!

If you have any questions about the publication, please contact Uche Akobundu, Project Management and Impact Director, at uche@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA CHOSEN TO RECEIVE FUNDS FOR MEMBERS AND ENSURE EVEN MORE SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO SENIOR CLIENTS

Meals on Wheels America is one of nine national partners chosen to split up to $1 million in grant funding from The Home Depot Foundation and Team Depot. Funding will be divided evenly among the partners, with most of our part being distributed back to you, our Members. This funding opportunity is made available through the Home Depot’s fifth annual Celebration of Service. The celebration – which started on September 10 and runs through Veteran’s Day (November 11) – commits Team Depot, comprised of Home Depot staff, to complete home safety and accessibility modifications that can help to maintain or restore independence for veteran clients of Meals on Wheels programs, including aging veterans and those with service-connected disabilities. Serving more than 500,000 veterans each year, Meals on Wheels is a natural fit.

On top of donating up to $111,000, the majority of which being granted back to you, Team Depot has already begun home repair projects for veterans served by Meals on Wheels of San Francisco, CA, and Meals on Wheels and More in Austin, TX - all through grants awarded to Meals on Wheels America from the Home Depot Foundation. These funds are used to grow their veteran home repair programs in a pilot program called, "The Helping Homebound Heroes Project."

There are a few easy ways you can help ensure that Meals on Wheels receives the greatest possible grant award. Just participate in the Celebration of Service in the following ways:

SHARE A #SERVICESELFIE ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM

A #ServiceSelfie is Team Depot’s twist on the traditional selfie. Just snap a selfie of you or your volunteers in action - including the veterans you serve and home repair projects, if possible - and tag the photo with the hashtag #ServiceSelfie when you post to Twitter or Instagram. For every #ServiceSelfie shared during the Celebration of Service (September 10 to November 11), Team Depot will donate $1 to the national partners.

OCTOBER 5 IS A SPECIAL DAY TO “LIKE” AND “SHARE” THE MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA #SERVICESELFIE POST

For every like, comment or share generated on Team Depot's Meals on Wheels America Celebration of Service post on Monday, October 5, $1 will also be donated to the national partners. Visit the Team Depot Facebook page on October 5 to share, like and comment on our Meals on Wheels America “spotlight post.” We’ll also be sure to share the special post on the Meals on Wheels America Facebook page so you can keep an eye out for it.

Stay tuned for more information about our veteran home repair grants with the Home Depot Foundation and how our Celebration of Service earnings will go back to eligible Members.

MEALS ON WHEELS NATIONAL DATA COLLECTION PORTAL GROWING – AND YOUR PROGRAM CAN BECOME A PART OF IT

The pilot phase of the Meals on Wheels Data Innovation Pilot Program is up and running, and building its ultimate value: providing all Members with easy tracking of, and access to, the data that will help prove our value, improve program operations and ultimately ensure the health of more seniors. We’re ready to step up to the next level of Member participation in the program and we ask that you join us in the effort.

The Data Driven Innovation Pilot Program was first launched in response to your request for an online tool aimed at collecting real-time data and facilitating easy reporting and aggregation of program operations and client health outcomes. It’s the only tool in the network that collects nationwide information with the ability to compare your data with other Members’ data. It will visualize your results in easy-to-understand charts and graphs that make benchmarking data that much easier. It’s also another great resource for asking specific client and program questions that yield important results used to make a stronger case for support and a powerful tool to share information with stakeholders.

Members already using the tool spend about two to three hours per month inputting their program data (number of staff, hours worked, meals produced and delivered, etc.) and client health outcome information (demographics, social isolation and fall risk factors, hospital admissions, chronic diseases, etc.).

TAKE PART NOW

Reach out to Uche Akobundu, Director of Project Management and Impact, at uche@mealsonwheelsamerica.org or 571-339-1629 to take part with this forward-looking group of participants.

You can also register for the upcoming webinar hosted by Meals on Wheels America on Tuesday, October 6 at 3:30 p.m. EDT, during which you'll receive an overview of the program, how to best utilize its functionality and hear from a fellow Member program about the benefits this tool delivers.
REGISTER HERE

The portal includes easy-to-understand graphs that allow your program to visualize data trends simply, like the one above.

A YEAR FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

During the past year, we forged ahead with a wide range of programs and initiatives designed to provide critical support to more than 1,000 Member organizations and their staffs. We worked hard to stay true to our mission to empower local programs to improve the health and quality of life for the seniors you serve – and together – we delivered.

These accomplishments are illustrated in two recently-released communications that can support you in building your case to others in your community and state.

2014 ANNUAL REPORT – Summarizes activities completed in calendar year 2014.
2015 YEAR IN REVIEW VIDEO (below) – Unveiled in Orlando, FL presents activity from last year’s Conference to this year’s – August 2014 through July 2015.

We again thank you all for the great collaboration, energy and commitment that made last year such a success!

MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES & BENEFITS

UP TO EIGHT $100,000 GRANTS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME SENIORS

Your program may be eligible for a valuable grant opportunity to become more familiar with Medicare and Medicaid, and learn how to ensure low-income seniors in your community receive public benefits to help pay for medical, food and energy expenses. All of this is available through a new grant program offered by the National Council on Aging (NCOA).

The NCOA’s Center for Benefits Access is currently seeking proposals from those interested in becoming part of its 2016 Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs) cohort. Up to eight grants of $100,000 each enable organizations to become BECs and provide person-centered enrollment support for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. In fact, several Meals on Wheels America Members already serve as BECs across the country. You can find out more about the program and download the application at www.ncoa.org/becs.

If selected to become a BEC, your program will help low-income Medicare beneficiaries and other eligible seniors connect with five core programs that include:

Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)
Medicare Savings Programs services
Medicaid
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your program’s offerings and support vulnerable seniors in your community! All proposals are due November 13. Go to www.ncoa.org/becs for the application and other supplementary materials.

MINI CASE STUDY: CREATIVELY FILLING THE FUNDING GAP

Member program Council on Aging Services for Seniors in Santa Rosa (Sonoma County), CA isn’t waiting for the government or private funders to fill their funding gaps. They created a business that sells their highly marketable meals in 29 area grocery stores, including Safeway and G&G Supermarkets, as well as vending machines for Bay Area employers at San Francisco’s television station KQED.

The Council on Aging is now selling about 10,000 meals each month through its for-profit venture, The Noble Spoon, and it forecasts annual sales of meals to grow to 144,000 next year, compared to 15,000 a year ago. This enterprise is made possible by the Council on Aging’s $3.5 million investment in a new kitchen in 2007. The 10,000-square-foot facility has the capability of producing upwards of 14,000 meals a day. Another contributor to their success is the use of celebrated Sonoma County chef John Ash to create five of the brand’s entrées and featuring him on the label.

While not all programs have access to large-capacity kitchens and renowned chefs, we believe that Council on Aging Services for Seniors’ President and CEO Marrianne McBride and Director of Kitchen Operations and Business Development Charles A. Lindner can shed some light on how setting up such a venture and capitalizing on local partnerships can work for Meals on Wheels programs across the country.

Q: What led to the creation of The Noble Spoon?

A few things led to The Noble Spoon. We had a 10,000 square-foot commercial kitchen that was underutilized and had been built with the idea that it could be used to generate revenue. To that end, we created a position, Director of Kitchen Operations and Business Development, and began a search to identify someone who would bring a vision and the skills to create a revenue stream from the kitchen that would ensure long-term sustainability for our Meals on Wheels program. From there we settled on a gourmet grab n’ go entrée that could be sold in grocery stores.

Q: How did the Council on Aging go about fostering relationships with local chefs and markets, and how critical are those connections to the success of The Noble Spoon?

We were initially told that we wouldn’t be successful because our Meals on Wheels meals were not known to be tasty. Our first step was to revamp and upgrade the meals served through Meals on Wheels. Our Director of Kitchen Operations and Business Development is a culinary-trained chef and was up for the challenge of creating gourmet products to be sold in stores. Getting them into grocery stores and markets required relationships in the early stages. We began with locally-owned grocery stores that we had partnered with in some of our fundraisers. Now stores call us and invite us in!

Q: Has selling meals raised awareness for the needs of seniors in your community and has this awareness led to additional support?

The Noble Spoon venture has definitely raised awareness because of the publicity we have had around our entrepreneurial efforts. The Noble Spoon packaging and the point-of-sale materials all tell our cause-related story. We consistently reinforce that we still need the support of the donor community and that we hope our commitment to achieving long term sustainability will resonate with donors. Ultimately, everyone who purchases The Noble Spoon entrée is supporting seniors.

Q: What is your advice for other Meals on Wheels programs looking to fill funding gaps with a for-profit enterprise?

I recommend that you look at the assets you already have or need and explore how they may possibly generate revenue. Also look at additional services that complement Meals on Wheels or would be needed by homebound clients that could generate revenue. Research is key as you decide on what you want to do – we spent months researching our competition and what it would take to be profitable. Know that you may need to make an initial investment, prepare a business plan and it may take a while before you are generating revenue. Your Board of Directors must be behind the idea and fully understand both the risks and the rewards.

For more information, check out some of the recent press coverage The Noble Spoon has received here.

REGISTER FOR NATIONAL MEMORY SCREENING WEEK: NOVEMBER 1-7

Registration for the National Memory Screening Week is now open and it’s free for programs like yours to become an official Screening Program site. National Memory Screening Week, taking place November 1-7, 2015, is a week-long event hosted by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and is dedicated to supporting early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and increasing public awareness of successful aging.

Memory screenings are key to early diagnosis, making participation as a Screening Program site vital for ensuring the health and wellbeing of seniors you serve, their caregivers and your community as whole. And, it’s easy to sign up! Visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.org and click here to register. The AFA will provide you with all of the tools you will need – at no cost– to conduct screenings at your program. You can read more of what’s required of screening sites here.

For questions, contact Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s National Program Manager Allisyn Vachon at 888-232-8484 ext. 161 or avachon@alzfdn.org.

NEW MEMBER DISCOUNT PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP WITH FEDEX MEANS NEW SAVINGS FOR YOU

FedEx joins the long-running list of partner companies that can significantly lower your program’s expenses through our Meals on Wheels America Member Discount Program. As a Member, you can receive the following savings:

Up to 52% off select FedEx Express® U.S. shipping
Up to 50% off select FedEx Express® international shipping
Up to 50% off select FedEx Ground® shipping

START TAKING ADVANTAGE NOW

Access FedEx’s exclusive savings on the services above by entering your Meals on Wheels America Group Purchasing Premier ID and the passcode XW1WS3 here. Not a Premier member yet? Sign up today!

Questions about how to take advantage of FedEx savings? Contact our Business Services Manager Steven Skelton at steven@mealsonwheelsamerica.org or 706-436-3999.

SAVE ON EVEN MORE US FOODS PRODUCTS THROUGH
OUR GROUP PURCHASING PROGRAM

Members are already experiencing major savings on the hundreds of thousands of high-quality products available through US Foods – and the long list of products you can choose from just got even longer!

You probably already know that US Foods is a leading wholesale food distributor offering huge savings through our Meals on Wheels America Member Discount Program’s Group Purchasing Plan with Premier. They led widely-attended live cooking demonstrations at our Annual Conference and Expo to showcase the now available items, made exclusively for Premier members only to purchase. See new products on the right.

Learn more about these products, their versatility and nutritional benefits here.

Ready to learn more about how to purchase or sign up for Premier? Contact Steven Skelton at steven@mealsonwheelsamerica.org or 706-436-3999. Start saving today!

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Did you know that we have an online discussion group where Members just like you are actively collaborating with their peers on crucial topics? Contribute and learn about these hot topics by joining our LinkedIn Discussion Group here. A few of the most recent conversations topics in the group include:

Expanding meal delivery services to include medications for clients;
How and when to recognize donors; and
Recommendations on popular software systems.

HELP DISPEL MYTHS IN AGING POLICY THAT CREATE BARRIERS TO OUR SUCCESS

Nobody better understands the problems created from misinterpretations and misunderstandings that impact our effectiveness in implementing the Older Americans Act at the state level than our Members. That is why we are asking for your participation in the first phase of our year-long project, Dispelling Myths: Supporting Public Policy for Greater Impact and Sustainability. This project is aimed at identifying myths around state policy that create barriers and increasing understanding of them among stakeholders in the aging network to better serve seniors.

The first step in the initial phase of the research involves gathering data through focus groups with our Members to help us guide the project most effectively. Member participation in these groups is crucial and we ask that you please take part by contacting our Policy Research Fellow Lindsay Houff at lindsay@mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

Learn more about this project by reviewing the article that appeared in the June 2015 Wheels in Motion edition here.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Bay Ridge Center, Brooklyn, NY
DC Central Kitchen, Washington , D.C.
Friends of Estacada Community Center, Estacada, OR
Gaston County Adult & Aging Services, Gastonia, NC
Gothenburg Senior Center, Gothenburg, NE

Greene County Senior Center, Snow Hill, NC
Hill Country Community Action Association, Inc., San Saba, TX
Penn Hills Senior Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Riverview Community Action Corporation, Oakmont, PA
South Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging, Columbia, SC