Elm Court Center Meals

We want to thank so many who are helping support our Elm Court Center in downtown Portland, projected to deliver more than 160,000 meals by June 2023 to at least 750 seniors EACH DAY (including homeless adults and veterans, seniors with disabilities and those who are homebound)!

Thank you Elm Court staff and volunteers! Each are hard at work with key community partners dedicated to serving those in need of a meal. Our team exemplifies the spirit of giving and we appreciate their important contributions each day. Of the seniors we serve at the Elm Court Center, consider this:

• More than 34% self-identify as belonging to an ethnic or nondominant culture;
• Approximately 60% of those served are women, who represent a significant need in the senior community because women historically did not have the same earning potential as men and are more likely to end up in poverty;
• Many of the seniors who receive Meals on Wheels People deliveries are living below the poverty level and have no other access to healthy, fresh food. At Elm Court Center, and;
• 83% of home delivery clients reported an annual income under $20,000 

Thank you community partners!  During the pandemic all of our congregate dining centers closed to later reopen and meals are now predominantly delivered to our clients’ doors. However, because this center’s population struggles with homelessness more than any of our other locations, Elm Court Center uniquely provides a hot lunch on site Monday - Thursday to seniors who are unsheltered, and also distributes items received from the food bank and local farmers’ market each week.   Meals on Wheels People regularly partners with a variety of organizations to achieve success at our Elm Court Center. Some of our partners include Multnomah County, Neighborhood House, Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization, Central City Concern and Home Forward. Central City Concern has been on site to aid with homeless participants and those who exhibit mental health and addiction issues.  Our community partners add so much value!

Thank you, funders!  Dozens of businesses and civic organizations such as Moda Health, the Standard, Union Bank, Rotary Club of Portland and Bank of America help us fund or deliver meals. We are delighted to list our financial supporters on our annual report each year.  They are helping us meet our project objectives for FY23 (July 1^st, 2022 – June 30^th, 2023) including:

• Addressing the problem of malnutrition among marginalized, vulnerable and low-income older adults in the downtown area of Portland, Meals on Wheels People at Elm Court Center is projected to serve at least 160,000 nutritious meals to an average of 750 adults over the age of 60 per day.
• Addressing the challenge of social isolation, trained staff and volunteers touch base with each senior they deliver to, initiating friendly conversations and double-checking on the senior’s overall health and wellbeing. When needed, staff and volunteers connect participants to additional social supports and refer them to local services and resources for assistance.

Interested in assisting?  Consider volunteering or an “End of Year” donation.  Gifts insure direct meals for the highest-need seniors we serve and help us address the challenges described above. A gift of your time to volunteer is just as valuable.  All gifts are ensuring that the rising costs of the program won’t interfere with our ability to provide meals and check-ins, camaraderie and conversations to seniors in the Elm Court Center service area.

This Fall is one of Thankfulness!  We appreciate, recognize, and honor our stakeholders ongoing support! 

Links:

• Information on What We Do!
• How to Volunteer to Help!