March 20, 2010 Roanoke, Texas
METROPORT MEALS ON WHEELS CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
On April 1, 1980, Metroport Meals on Wheels (MMOW) delivered its first home cooked meals to shut-in seniors in Roanoke. Emily Ragsdale, Sue Hoke, Shaun Wicker and Kelly Bradley prepared and delivered a delicious meal of roast beef, whipped potatoes, fresh green beans, fresh fruit salad and monkey bread to five Roanoke residents.

As the program in Roanoke grew, volunteers were recruited in other cities to model the Roanoke Meals On Wheels program. The programs came together under the Metroport banner in 1993. Today, MMOW is celebrating thirty years of service and over 775,000 meals for area seniors.

The home delivered meal programs met with overwhelming response, and soon outgrew the volunteers’ kitchens. Rather than seeking federal funding for expensive kitchen equipment, the organization turned to local restaurants and found friends who embraced the mission and took a personal interest in its participants. Dallas Marriott Solana became the first food partner in 1992. Since then, Dallas Marriott Solana has provided over 106,000 meals for MMOW’s participants and still provides meals for those in Roanoke and Trophy Club.

In 1981, the organization responded to a request from local seniors and developed a community luncheon and activity program at the Roanoke Community Center—a program that has served as the role model for senior center activities in other communities. In addition to recognizing nutrition needs for seniors who were homebound, MMOW also keyed into the need for community for active seniors. Senior Center luncheons provide a welcoming place for seniors to gather and share a meal. Today, MMOW provides community lunches for active seniors in eight