Serving Our Community, One Senior at a Time
From front doors to community cafés, Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois delivers nourishment, connection, and care.
Serving Our Community, One Senior at a Time
From front doors to community cafés, Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois delivers nourishment, connection, and care.
Supporting Older Adults, Strengthening Communities
More than 450,000 seniors in Illinois face food insecurity. Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois (MOWFNI) provides meals and resources to help older adults and individuals with disabilities lead healthy, active lives. Since the 1970s, we’ve worked to ensure no senior goes hungry, promoting connection and community. As needs grow, we remain committed to supporting those we serve.
Our Services
Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois offers three essential services: Meals on Wheels, delivering nutritious meals to seniors at home; Senior Community Cafes, providing inviting dining options for older adults; and Dining Around Town, offering healthy meals to enjoy at restaurants or on the go.
Making an Impact
Every day, our supporters, volunteers, and staff work together to make a real difference. From delivering meals to providing companionship, our impact is felt across Northern Illinois.
Volunteer With Us
Volunteering with Meals on Wheels is a powerful way to give back to your community and make a direct impact. Whether you're an individual, a family, or a corporate team, you can help deliver meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities, offering both nourishment and companionship. From meal delivery to greeting card art, your time can make a big difference in someone's day. Join us today and experience the rewarding feeling of supporting those in need!
Become a Donor
Your support ensures that older adults and individuals with disabilities receive the nutritious meals they need to stay healthy and independent. Every gift helps us grow and sustain our programs across Cook, Kendall, Grundy, and Will Counties. Together, we can make sure that no older adult goes hungry.
Thank You to Our Generous Donors and Sponsors
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
The Older Americans Act is due for reauthorization.
What does the OAA do?
🍽️ Funds home-delivered and group meals
🏠 Supports in-home help like personal care and homemaker services
🚐 Provides transportation to appointments and errands
💛 Offers caregivers counseling, training, and respite
🛡️ Protects older adults from abuse and neglect
⚖️ Provides free legal help
💼 Offers job training for low-income seniors
🤝 Connects people to local help through Area Agencies on Aging
Help advocate for the older adults in your life. Reach out to your representatives today.
#Mow #OAA #advocacy📢 The Older Americans Act has been a cornerstone of aging services in the U.S. for more than 60 years, supporting programs like home-delivered meals, transportation, caregiver services, health promotion and more.
With the OAA overdue for reauthorization, Congress has an opportunity to update the law to better reflect the needs of today’s older adults and family caregivers. The U.S. Senate has taken an important step by passing bipartisan reauthorization legislation, but the work isn’t finished yet.
What would reauthorization mean for the Aging Network and the people it serves? Read our latest Advocacy Spotlight to learn more about what’s next for the Older Americans Act and how you can make your voice heard.
Read more: ageguide.org/advocacy-spotlight-whats-next-for-the-older-americans-act
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The King may have left the building, but our volunteers never do! 🕺🍽️
This month, we rolled out the blue suede carpet for the incredible volunteers of Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois at our volunteer celebrations. Our staff shared heartfelt thank-yous, and Elvis stopped by to shake, rattle, and roll with our guests. 🎤
Every meal delivered, every friendly knock on the door, every smile shared makes a difference for neighbors who count on us. You aren't just delivering meals. You're delivering connection, comfort, and care. And we're all shook up about how grateful we are. 💙
Thank you, volunteers. We couldn't do it without you!
Watch the highlights above, and tag a volunteer who deserves a "thank you very much!"
#MealsOnWheels #VolunteerAppreciation #ThankYouVolunteers #NorthernIllinois #CommunityCare
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"They're good to me." That's Lorenzo, talking about what our home-delivered meals mean to him. 💛 It's more than a meal — it's a knock at the door, a friendly face, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing someone's checking in.
If you or someone you love could use that kind of support, we're here. Learn more: mowfni.org/meals-on-wheels/
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🍂 Fall is here, and so is our October Calendar of Events! 🎃
Join us this month for a warm lineup of Community Café lunches and seasonal activities designed just for you. Whether you're in the mood for something festive or simply want to enjoy a good meal with friends, we've got you covered this October.
🍽️ Good food, good company, and a touch of autumn charm await!
📅 View the full October calendar here: mowfni.org/events/category/cafe-event/2026-10/
We hope to see you there!
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You don't need a whole week to change someone's day — just an hour, any weekday. When our volunteer drivers show up with a warm meal, it's not just food at the door. It's a friendly face, a few minutes of connection, and for many seniors, the highlight of their day.
Watch what happens when Nykole delivers. Then find a route near you: www.mowfni.org/volunteer
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🎸 GET READY TO ROCK FOR A GREAT CAUSE! 🎸
Dust off your favorite concert t-shirt or rock ‘n’ roll era gear and join WCSJ Radio Morris,IL The Voice of Grundy County, GiveGrundy - IL, Meals on Wheels, and many more for Rock the Cause! It’s going to be a high-energy night of music, food, and fun to benefit our local nonprofits!
📅 Date: Friday, November 20, 2026 ⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – Late 📍 Location: Jennifer’s Garden (555 Gore Rd., Morris, IL)
HERE’S WHAT’S IN STORE:
🎶 Rock hits spun live by DJ Kevin Schramm
🍔 Delicious themed food bars & fun activities
🎟️ Basket raffles & a 50/50 raffle
🍹 Cash bar
👕 Official event concert t-shirts available to buy online
🤝 Opportunities to meet and support local Grundy County nonprofits!
TICKETS & TABLES:
General Admission / Lawn Chair Ticket: $55
VIP Lounge Ticket: $100 (Includes exclusive VIP access & upgraded perks)
VIP Lounge Table: $1,000 (Includes reserved seating & full VIP perks for 8 guests)
💼 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Calling all local businesses! Sponsorship packages start at $500. Support a vital community cause while gaining great exposure for your business.
📞 HOW TO GET YOUR TICKETS OR BECOME A SPONSOR: Space is limited! Visit GiveGrundy.com today to purchase. Please make sure to note that Meals On Wheels is your referring agency when you buy your tickets.
Let’s party with a purpose! Drop a 🎸 in the comments if we’ll see you there, and tag a friend you want to bring!
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"Every senior has the right to age in place — with dignity, with support, and at home." That's Cynthia, a board member at Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois, on why this work matters. Aging in place isn't a luxury — it's a right. Help us spread the word. Share this with someone who believes the same. 💛
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Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois extends our deepest gratitude to the The Community Foundation of Will County for choosing to invest in our programming in Will County.
We are deeply grateful to the Community Foundation of Will County for their inspiring leadership and grant support, which empowers us to fight senior food insecurity, expand our reach, and deliver vital wellness checks to neighbors in need across the county.
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Robert started with Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois in May 2026. He has truly enjoyed working with the seniors at the Proviso Café, assisting them with their Bingo activities and serving lunch. Robert heard about the Meals on Wheels program through his son Glenn, who works for the Proviso Township Transportation Department, transporting seniors and delivering meals. When Robert heard that Proviso was looking for a food aide, he immediately applied and was hired to assist Laurie in the day-to-day operations of running the site. Robert says, "It’s truly been a joy to work here and help in every way that I can. I have always wanted to have a job that I would be able to help others. This job means so much to me to be able to serve others, especially the fine seniors of Proviso Township."
One moment Robert will never forget is helping an older lady carry her food out to her car — she had tears in her eyes and thanked him, and he had tears in his eyes too. She wrote a check for Meals on Wheels and said she was grateful for a place like this. He also loves sitting down with café clients like Ms. Odessa Howard, who is 80 years young and one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving people he's had the pleasure to meet here — he even brings her BBQ ribs from home since she's always asking. On top of all that, Robert does a lot of data entry, helps with menus and donation statements, serves lunch, runs the Bingo machine, and loves making people smile.
Outside of Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois, Robert is an associate minister at his church, loves singing in the choir, and spends quality time with his family.
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