In-Home Delivery of Noon Meals
Meals with Wheels
Bacoa’s Meals with Wheels program provides hot, nutritious meals to older adults who cannot prepare meals for themselves because of poor health or low income. We work with local restaurants Monday through Friday to bring balanced noontime meals to tables throughout the Barrington area.
We believe it’s more than just a meal. It’s about feeling independent, dignified, and having one less thing to worry about. This meal-delivery service empowers our older adults to live safely and independently in their own homes while living better-nourished lives.
Deliveries are made by local organizations and volunteers. In addition to weekday meals, these volunteers also provide a smile and a daily safety check. Many participants choose long-term meal delivery, but meals are also available on a short-term basis after a hospitalization or rehab stay.
For more information about Meals with Wheels, please call Bacoa at (847) 381-5030.
Bacoa’s Meals with Wheels is for older adults who are:
Food Insecurity Can Look Different Between Households
Older adults should never have to choose between a nutritious meal and paying for other daily essentials like medication. However, that’s the reality for many older adults in our area.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. There are two degrees of food insecurity:
- Low food security: reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake
- Very low food security: reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake
Before the pandemic, 8.6 percent of older adults in Illinois were food insecure. New research found a nearly 60 percent increase in older adult food insecurity during COVID-19. This increased need means Meals with Wheels is more crucial than ever.
Funding provided in whole or in part by Barrington Area Community Foundation
