More Than a Meal

Meals on Wheels Sacramento County and the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services partner to keep older adults safe and fed

by Elizabeth Ann Morabito

On a routine Monday meal delivery, a volunteer driver with Meals on Wheels (MoW) Sacramento County made a frightening discovery—a senior trapped in a collapsed bed since Friday, without food, water, or a way to call for help. Staying calm, the driver called 911 and remained at the scene until the emergency contact arrived.

Reflecting on moments like these, Mindy Klick, executive director of MoW Sacramento County, shares, “I want to say these are success stories, but they are more like life-saving stories.”

Although often mistaken for a public agency, MoW Sacramento County is actually a program of the private nonprofit ACC Senior Services. They partner with Sacramento County’s Department of Child, Family and Adult Services to tackle senior hunger and isolation head-on. DCFAS’s support has helped shrink the growing wait-list by providing funding, vehicles and equipment to make meal delivery safer and more efficient.

“We try to provide whatever we can to help seniors stay in their homes safely.”

Mindy Klick, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Sacramento County

In the current fiscal year, MoW Sacramento County is serving an average of about 1,500 meals to seniors each month, with flexible meal options designed to fit their lifestyles:

• Home delivery gives participants a choice of daily hot meals or weekly frozen meal packs.
• Restaurant meal vouchers provide flexibility and the opportunity to dine out at local partner restaurants.
• Community Cafés, located in community centers and other sites across the county, provide more than just a meal—they offer a space for seniors to connect, socialize, and combat loneliness. For many participants, the opportunity for conversation is just as important as the food itself.
• AniMeals, a pet food program, ensures that seniors don’t have to choose between feeding themselves and their beloved pets. Many participants consider their pets to be family, and AniMeals provides food for these furry companions, allowing seniors to care for them without sacrificing their own meals.

Despite their name, MoW is about far more than just meals. “This is about making sure our seniors are safe, cared for, and not forgotten,” Klick emphasizes.

To help achieve this, they also equip seniors with essential home items such as microwaves for easy meal prep, shower chairs for safer bathing and bedside commodes for added convenience. Regular wellness checks and emergency support add another layer of safety, ensuring help is always within reach.

“We try to provide whatever we can to help seniors stay in their homes safely,” Klick explains.

A key part of this safety net is the bond between seniors and their delivery drivers. Assigned to regular routes, drivers provide consistency, building trust and familiarity. For many homebound seniors, they may be the only human connection that day—or even that week.

If something seems off—such as changes in behavior, health, or routine—the driver initiates the chain of support, alerting their caseworker who can respond as needed. Klick explains, “If we see a situation that concerns us, we’re able to reach out to DCFAS and either get advice, coaching on how to handle it or have Adult Protective Services step in and assist.”

Klick speaks highly of the DCFAS team. “I have not met a nicer group of people with the biggest hearts, trying to do the right thing,” she says. “I can pick up the phone and say, ‘This is the challenge we’re facing—what are your thoughts? How can we partner?’” This open, solutions-focused partnership between Meals on Wheels and Sacramento County DCFAS helps ensure that no senior is left without food or a safety net.

Do you or a loved one need Meals on Wheels Sacramento County’s services? Sacramento County residents aged 60 and above qualify. Apply online, call (916) 444-9533, or visit their office at 7375 Park City Drive in Sacramento to get started.