Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg receives no state or federal funding for meals. We rely on donations from the community to fulfill our mission of delivering independence while nourishing both body and spirit.
Thank you for your interest in helping us fulfill our mission.
Inform them you would like to make a gift of stock to Meals on Wheels. They will walk you through the easy process.
IRA Charitable Rollover or Qualified Charitable Distribution
Rollover, or donate directly from your IRA, and realize the tax benefit of reducing your Adjusted Gross Income.
Planned Giving
Meals on Wheels is always pleased to receive bequests and planned gifts. These gifts are invested and will provide meals for people in need for many years to come.
When we are informed about your plans for an estate or other special gift, we can include you in special notices, events, and communications.
Each major gift of $26,000 invested in our Steward’s Society ensures that one homebound neighbor will be served in perpetuity! Help us secure the future funding of this organization for years to come. Gifts can be made as a lump sum, or pledges fulfilled over 3 years. All bequest donors are recognized as Steward’s Society members.
Meals on Wheels is a United Way partner agency. Your workplace may support donations via payroll deduction. Your donation to United Way can be designated to support “Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg”.
Combined Federal Campaign
Virginia State Employees may contribute through payroll deduction by selecting Combined Federal Campaign # 82019
Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation
The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation manages an endowment fund designated for supporting Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg. Your donation has a direct and lasting impact.
Fundraising
Social media makes it easy for you to proudly and publicly show your support for Meals on Wheels! We will be humbled and grateful if you choose to celebrate a special occasion by designating a Facebook Fundraiser for us.
Company Matching
Many area employers match their employees’ charitable donations. Don’t forget to inquire at your place of business to see if the impact of your gift could be doubled!
Donate Your Vehicle
Donate your used car, van, truck, a boat with a trailer, or recreational vehicle to support, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It’s as easy as filling out our online donation form. We accept any vehicles, running or not, regardless of age and condition!
Purchase MOW Notecards
An annual tradition, these packs of 8 beautiful notecards featuring the works of local artists have raised over $120,000 for our program – on pack at a time!
Meals on Wheels is registered to receive donations through Kroger’s Community Rewards Program. Register your card, and give the Meals on Wheels Lynchburg NPO #MD174
It is amazing how quickly donations add up. We appreciate your help!
Donate Pet Food to
Product only (please, no monetary donations for this program).
Consider making a donation of pet food in honor or in memory of your favorite pet!
Read more about Animeals. Thanks to these local veterinary clinics and animal hospitals which serve as drop-off locations!
Your church, civic group, or business can sign up to deliver meals. One person serves as the group coordinator, a liaison to schedule and communicate with group volunteers. ‘The Group’ might be scheduled for one or two days a month, but each volunteer would actually deliver less often.
Other Ways to Help
If you or your church, civic group, or business would like to explore additional ways you can help, or have special skills you can offer, please call the office at 434-847-0796 and we will be glad to discuss creative ways you can make a difference.
Meals on Wheels is so good to us. We just love you all and seeing the volunteers is a highlight of our day!
Fred
Meal Recipient
We are so glad to volunteer for such a wonderful organization that serves our communities. Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness and for your dedication to those in need.
Rick & Nita
Volunteers
Thank you for the meals! If it wasn’t for Meals on Wheels I wouldn’t be eating at all.
Helen
Meal Recipient
One of the best things in my day is getting a call from Meals on Wheels asking if I can deliver. I love getting out to help. Meals on Wheels is my favorite volunteer experience!
MaryAnn
Volunteer
I live alone and need a walker; every volunteer is so kind and patient with me, they even bring up my trash can and my mail. I just want you to know how much it means to me. Sometimes we just need to stop and say “thanks!”
Blanch
Meal Recipient
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this incredible program!
Phillip
Volunteer
I want to say ‘Thank you’ for all you do – I sure do appreciate it. I don’t get much company and I look forward to seeing the volunteers every day. It brightens up my day!
Curtis
Meal Recipient
We deliver meals because we can, and with the knowledge that one day we too might use the wonderful service you provide.
Jim & Karen
Volunteers
I completed my first volunteer route this morning and had zero problems. Everything was well organized and I was thoroughly briefed before I left. What a GREAT experience! It took a total of 55 minutes from pickup to dropping coolers off at the locker. A great group of recipients, too. Thank you for all you do!
Jeffrey
Volunteer
My 17-year-old was my navigator and I drove. When I parked at each house, he read off what that recipient got and kept track of everything. We made a great team AND he got to experience the rewarding feeling of volunteering!
Diane
Volunteer
My route had houses very close together so it was quick and easy to do. Spent almost 15 minutes with one recipient though – – – made a new friend today! ♥️
Kathryn
Volunteer
Pam and Tom Nowell built a life rich with shared passions and dedication to their community.
Pam, a spirited go-getter, dedicated over 35 years to social work, supporting foster families and social services. Her deep compassion for vulnerable populations led her to be a donor to Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg, a full-circle moment that would later become incredibly personal.
Tom, a war veteran and beloved professor, spent 37 years inspiring countless students in the theatre program at the University of Lynchburg. He helped shape the local theatre scene, fostering talents like Dustin Williams of Wolfbane Productions and retired nonprofit leader Bill Bodine. If you have a local theatre story to tell, it’s likely tied to Tom in some way. “Theatre in Lynchburg simply wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the Nowells,” shared Dr. Bill Kershner.
After retiring in 2014 from “Lynchburg College,”Tom co-founded Commerce Street Theater, spending years volunteering as Artistic Director, with Pam as Managing Director. Together, they poured countless hours into nurturing the local theatre scene, leaving an indelible mark.
Life, however, presented unforeseen challenges. Three years ago, Tom was diagnosed with fibrosis. Further testing in December 2024 revealed a previous mild heart attack, leaving his heart operating at a mere 15-20%. Despite declining health, Tom’s commitment to helping others never wavered; he provided his services as a volunteer from home, most recently consulting on set designs for the 2025-2026 theatre season.
During this time, Pam, Tom’s primary caregiver and beloved wife, faced her own health crisis. Last December, a fall resulted in a broken elbow and knee, requiring hospitalization. With Pam away during her recovery, they turned to Meals on Wheels, a service they proudly supported as donors. And upon her return home, Pam also received meals. However, another fall in April led to a concussion and skull fracture, sending her back to rehab. She then again received meals until she became fully healed, while Tom continued to receive meals until June of this year.
Tom genuinely appreciated how Meals on Wheels catered to his heart-healthy diet. “Meals on Wheels guarantees that I will have one good hot and healthy meal a day,” Tom shared. Pam playfully interjected, “What are you trying to say, I don’t cook good food?” Their shared laughter was a testament to the comfort and normalcy the service provided.
For Pam and Tom, the arrival of their meal was more than sustenance; it was “like unwrapping a gift nearly every day.” Beyond vital nutrition, it brought a profound sense of connection. Pam emphasized the importance of staying connected as people age, noting, “Our minds are active and engaged; we shouldn’t be forgotten because we are growing old.” This sentiment aligns with the mission of Meals on Wheels, where volunteers provide nourishing food, companionship, and wellness checks, ensuring recipients feel seen and cared for.
The Nowells’ story is a poignant reminder that life’s challenges can touch anyone, and sometimes, the simplest acts of support can make the greatest difference.
Tom Nowell passed away just three days after this interview. Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg was honored to be a part of the final months of his extraordinary life. Tom spent his life educating others and giving back to his community. In the end, the Nowells’ giving nature came full circle, demonstrating the profound power of paying it forward.
The Meals on Wheels community thanks the Nowells for their generosity in sharing their story. We send our deepest condolences to Pam, the Nowell family, and the community that loved Tom so deeply. We know he is greatly missed.
Diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder at a young age, Beth Fox was given a stark prognosis: she might not live to see 30. Yet, here she is, weeks from her 33rd birthday—a joyous milestone. And while this is cause for celebration, the news that her health is declining rapidly is a grim reality.
With two master’s degrees, Beth passionately coached college hopefuls and tutored children, cherishing her self-sufficiency. Simple tasks, like cooking, were vital to her independence.
Now, her physical health is waning. Meal preparation is near impossible; she requires a specialized diet of liquid or pureed, allergen-free foods. Expensive protein shakes drain her limited budget. This led her to Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg.
Receiving Meals on Wheels with no waiting period was a huge relief. “I didn’t realize I would qualify,” she shared. “But not only was I approved, I began receiving meals the very next day!” It is thanks to local supporters and donors that enables us to serve over 600 meals daily, Monday through Friday, without federal or state funding and without waiting lists. Your support means we serve everyone, regardless of age or income.
Kaisey, Beth’s service dog, sat close as Beth emphasized her reliance and love for her. “I honestly can’t put into words what Kaisey means to me,” she confided. “She’s my best friend, she’s everything to me.” Kaisey is truly remarkable, monitoring Beth’s health, alerting her to blood sugar or oxygen changes, and even assisting during narcoleptic episodes.
Kaisey is a medical necessity, and ensuring she is fed is vital. We recently added Kaisey to our Animeals program, supported by community donations of pet food.
Our work at Meals on Wheels isn’t just about delivering meals; it’s about delivering hope, independence, and comfort. Beth’s journey—her resilience, achievements, sudden challenges, and irreplaceable bond with Kaisey— demonstrates why community support is so vital. Every donation and every hour volunteered, empowers us to ensure more neighbors can face challenges with dignity, remain in their homes, and receive critical assistance, just like Beth.
Ken and Gail Kowalski have championed the mission of Meals on Wheels for decades, instilling a deep love for community service in their children, Scott and Kathryn. Gail first joined the Meals on Wheels board in the 1980s, dedicating nine years to the organization while raising her family with Ken, who was then principal of E.C. Glass High School.
Over the years, Ken and Gail volunteered with various nonprofits, but they wholeheartedly believe Meals on Wheels offers one of the most rewarding opportunities. They attribute this not only to the organization’s intentional efforts to create memorable experiences, but also to the fulfilling relationships and rewards that come from providing the gift of nutrition and community.
Being raised by parents committed to helping their neighbors planted a seed in both Scott, who, like his mother, served on the board of Meals on Wheels and volunteered, and Kathryn, fostering their own love of community service. For the Kowalski family, it’s truly a way of life.
THREE GENERATIONS OF SERVICE
Now, it’s Scott’s turn to model the importance of giving back for his own children, just as his parents did for him and his sister.
“My daughter and I were recently delivering to a couple, and she was able to experience seeing these individuals going through an incredibly difficult situation and yet, be so grateful for their meal, and for us too — it really provided us with such a great perspective and bond,” Scott recalls.
Kathryn shares, “I sometimes feel a little selfish when I volunteer, because it does so much for me. There’s something rare about going directly to people’s homes to help. The individuals you meet are incredibly kind and appreciative, and you get to interact with them in truly meaningful ways.”
“Being able to serve in this way together creates connection,” adds Gail. “We have created some really wonderful memories volunteering over the years together.”
The Kowalski family has collectively volunteered countless hours over the last several decades. While they truly believe they receive the greatest gift by delivering, the legacy of service they are creating is a gift to us all.
Just like so many of our dedicated volunteers, Ken, Gail, Scott, and Kathryn are changing lives, one meal, one smile, and one hour at a time.
The Power of Intention
At Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg, we believe that how we serve is just as important as what we serve. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to be intentional to create a volunteer experience that is efficient, rewarding, and full of heart.
Volunteers are the engine of our mission. Every day, they show up at five pick-up locations across town—ready to deliver not just meals, but connection. With 769 active and engaged volunteers returning regularly, there’s a buzz of excitement in the air as they head out to see “their people.”These aren’t just deliveries; they’re moments of community, of kindness, of being seen.
We’ve invested time and research into designing volunteer opportunities that are easy to access, well-organized, and deeply meaningful. Our goal is to offer the most fulfilling volunteer experience in town—and the smiles, stories, and loyalty of our volunteers show that it’s working.We deliver more than a meal—we deliver hope, friendship, and a lifeline to those who need it most.
The Power to Serve, in the Palm of Your Hand
Innovation is another form of service—and our newest tool is putting more power directly into our volunteers’ hands. We recently launched the Mobile Meals Delivery App, a major upgrade designed to enhance and simplify every step of the volunteer experience.
With just a few taps, volunteers can view their route, get real-time updates, and communicate directly with staff if a concern arises. It’s efficient, intuitive, and already making a difference.
But the benefits go beyond convenience. The app is helping us collect more timely and consistent information about the well-being of our recipients. Volunteers can easily report changes or concerns—allowing our staff to track trends, identify potential problems, and offer additional support when it’s needed most.
Click here to join us for a virtual ride along, and learn more about what it’s like to volunteer with Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg
At Meals on Wheels, our mission is powered by the passion of individuals like Steve Blickenstaff. In this video, Steve, a long-standing volunteer and a key member of our board, shares his personal perspective on why our work is so crucial.
Kaisey, Beth’s service dog, sat close as Beth emphasized her reliance and love for her. “I honestly can’t put into words what Kaisey means to me,” she confided. “She’s my best friend, she’s everything to me.” Kaisey is truly remarkable, monitoring Beth’s health, alerting her to blood sugar or oxygen changes, and even assisting during narcoleptic episodes.
