Home Delivered Meals With A Friendly Visit

Supporting the independence and well-being of homebound seniors, veterans, and the disabled since 1971

Meals on Wheels of Long Beach (MOWLB) provides a service of home delivered nutritionally balanced meals for individuals who are unable to shop and cook for themselves and who live alone. Founded in 1971, the program continues with the support of dedicated volunteers and generous donors.


  • While the majority of our clients are elderly, meals are available to all Long Beach area residents, regardless of age.
  • We serve Monday through Friday except major holidays.
  • Referrals are taken from doctors, hospital staff, social workers, ministers, clients, family or friends.

Our goal is to enable the chronically ill, seniors, veterans and disabled to remain independent & safe in their own homes for as long as possible.


See our 2022 Impact Report

Our service to Long Beach in 2023

Volunteers

Clients

Friendly Visits

Meals Delivered

Our Values

OUR VISION: To build a community where every homebound neighbor receives nutritious meals and social support.

OUR MISSION: We are more than a meal – we nourish, we comfort, we protect.


OUR VALUES:

  • Compassionate – We recognize and appreciate the challenges our clients face every day and are highly motivated to increase their comfort whenever possible.
  • Reliable – Our clients count on our consistent and dependable service.
  • Trustworthy – We are immensely proud of the rich and meaningful relationships we have with our clients and support their dignity at all times.
  • Fresh and Friendly – Our friendly volunteers deliver freshly prepared and nutritious meals with love and support.

Our Story

Our staff and volunteers strive to nourish, comfort, and protect our clients daily to follow through with our mission of being "more than a meal".
Serving approximately 600 clients each weekday is no small task. With the help of generous donors and dedicated volunteers, we are not only able to provide freshly prepared meals each day, but connect clients to a multitude of needed services that lead to improved quality of life and safety. Furthermore, we strive to promote aging in place safely, securely, and happily through the provision of food, companionship, supportive services, and the reduction of isolation and loneliness, bringing a warm feeling to anyone who connects with Meals on Wheels of Long Beach.


Our History

Meals on Wheels originated in England during World War II, when the women’s Volunteer Services were organized to help Civil Defense. The first successful program in the United States began in Philadelphia in 1954 and has spread throughout major cities in the United States.


Meals on Wheels of Long Beach (MOWLB) began as a pilot program and service project of Soroptimist International of Long Beach after many months of research and preparation. On March 1, 1971, MOWLB opened at the First Congregational Church in downtown Long Beach with ten clients. In 1972 MOWLB incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Because of the need for home delivered meals, the program grew rapidly and over the years has expanded throughout Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, and Leisure World Seal Beach. Now over 600 clients are served in their homes daily.


F.A.Q

  • We try and make the sign up process as easy a possible. You can sign up online through this interest form or you can call our client manager, Caron Adler, at (562) 439-5000 ext. 1 and she will help you through the application process and answer any questions you may have about our meal delivery program.

    Call today and receive meals tomorrow!

  • Meals on Wheels of Long Beach (MOWLB) provides a service of home delivered nutritionally balanced meals for individuals who are unable to shop and cook for themselves and who live alone.

    While the majority of our clients are elderly, meals are available to all Long Beach area residents, regardless of age, on a long-term or a temporary basis if you are recovering from surgery or illness.

  • Meals on Wheels of Long Beach (MOWLB) works hard to provide a varied and delicious menu of balanced meals for our clients. Each delivery with a “Friendly Visit” includes two complete meals ˗ a hot dinner, cold lunch, dessert and beverage.

    All meals are prepared locally, made with fresh, wholesome ingredients with no added salt.

    If you would like to see a sample monthly menu of our meal offerings, click here.

  • Our fee for this service is $10.50/day for a hot dinner, cold lunch, dessert and beverage. .

    We work to keep our meals affordable and still provide an excellent value for freshly prepared, ready-to-eat meals delivered daily to your door.

    We offer financial assistance to cover the cost of your daily meals. If you have any questions about whether you qualify for financial assistance please contact our client manager, Caron Adler, at (562) 439-5000 ext. 1.

    Since 1971 we have never missed a scheduled delivery day and have never stopped meal service to any client due to government funding cuts.

    MOWLB is not a government funded program.

  • For individuals who cannot afford our fee for service, they may qualify for funding support.

    These clients, during our intake process, must show that they are low-income or extremely low-income, and provide a doctor’s note indicating they are homebound and need financial assistance through our meal subsidy or sponsorship programs.

    These subsidies are supported by foundation grants, individual donors and fundraising projects. In addition, MOWLB is a service provider for SCAN Health Plan, providing meal service to their approved members.

  • Meals are delivered to your door Monday through Friday between 10:30am and 12:30pm. Meals cannot be left at your doorstep if no one is home, but we are always happy to make special delivery arrangements with you.

Testimonials

I feel like I'm on vacation. I'm gaining weight and I get to meet a variety of new people. I am grateful for the program. The food is fresh and good, the service is wonderful, and the visitors are so nice and helpful.

Jahal

Since I no longer drive, Meals on Wheels allow me more independence by not having to ask someone to take me shopping so often.

Vykki

I really want to say thank you to Meals on Wheels because if it wasn't for this service I would not be eating. When my husband died I had no one to turn to for help, but now, because of you, I now have someone to depend on.

Beverly

There are so many of us that don't have the funds or have issues that keeps us from cooking so it means a lot to me to have a helping hand. I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL!

Dorothy

You allow us to live at home by providing delicious means and friendly smiling faces that greet me every day.

David

There is a wide variety of food and each meal is all well balanced. I am diabetic and your meals accommodate my specific meal needs.

Alice

Thank you ever so much for your incredible service of providing good food and delivering them with such kindness and joy!

Maria

Gratitude and Joy to all of you for your service. It is a pleasure every day to receive the delicious and generous meals from kind volunteers.

Barbara

Thank you for such delicious meals. Since starting Meals on Wheels I have more energy and I’ve gained some weight. You truly are a lifesaver!

Mary