In April, billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave Hollander’s organization $70 million, her biggest gift so far this year. Hollander talks about how the organization is planning on using such a huge gift, why the waiting lists for Meals on Wheels services keep getting longer, and the difficulties of simply getting volunteers reimbursed for their gas mileage.
Is it fair to say that Meals on Wheels is the least controversial charity in the United States?
Does that reputation make it harder to get your concerns heard?
Is Meals on Wheels feeling the headwinds that are being faced by other charitable organizations? Has there been a drop in fundraising and volunteer support?
In San Antonio, a local group was about to suspend service and wealthy benefactors stepped in, and in Michigan, they're starting to use paid drivers because they don't have enough volunteers. How worried are you about local affiliates ceasing to exist?
Congress is full of old people. Why do they not care?
Meals on Wheels America is calling for $2.285 billion in funding for the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program in 2027, which is more than double current levels. Why so much?
What can you do to guarantee that you will be able to reach the seniors who need it?
In America, the richest country in the world, it's quite something to be waiting four months to get meal delivery.
MacKenzie Scott recently gave your organization $70 million. Even for her, that's a big gift. What are you going to use it for?
Are you saying you're not going to give this to seniors? You're going to use it to strengthen the organization in a different way?
Do you feel that the volunteering spirit has died down a bit?
I have no idea. I wish I knew the answer to that. It isn't for a lack of our programs seeking volunteers. Our seniors have had amazing lives, they're a lot of fun. We always encourage people just to do it once, and what we find is that they're hooked. I don't know if it's a time issue, inflation, the cost of fuel, or that all of these are adding to a financial strain, not only on our programs, but also on volunteers.
There are 14 million seniors who are threatened by hunger, and that's grown by something like 3.1 million in just three years. The seniors that we serve are older. They have limited mobility. They're dealing with multiple chronic conditions. They're not able to get to a food bank. They're not able to prepare their own food or go to a grocery store. That's why it's not as noticeable.
They may live alone and they may live remotely. Their family may live nowhere near them. We’re often the first point of contact when something goes wrong. A volunteer or Meals on Wheels staff member goes to a house, knocks on a door, and there's no answer. We're the people that are going to reach out, if there is a family member, to let them know that there's a problem.
I just think unless you have an older adult in your life that you're caring for or are aware of, you always think Meals on Wheels is going to be there.
Well, Meals on Wheels is a network of individual programs in communities, large and small, suburban, rural, and urban. Is there always going to be a Meals on Wheels program in your community? I can’t guarantee that. But will there always be Meals on Wheels somewhere? Yes, I absolutely believe it.
There are three easy steps: donate, advocate, volunteer. All three are important.
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