FAQ

Who can receive Meals on Wheels?

Any homebound person who is over 60 years of age may qualify for our Meals on Wheels Program.
Individuals under 60 may also qualify for the Meals on Wheels Program if they are disabled and meet the income guidelines.
People over 60 years of age who are not disabled or homebound are welcome at our Congregate Dining Program offered at various locations throughout the county.

You may call us directly at 603-424-9967. We also accept referrals from discharge planners, family members, social workers, doctors, nurses, home health aides and friends.

We do not charge for our services. Our suggested donation is $2.00 per meal or $10.00 per week. We are thankful for the donations that we receive, however, no one is denied help if they cannot afford to make a donation.

Our activities require multiple avenues of funding to cover the full cost of the services we provide. We work very hard to stay one-step ahead of our needs.
Each and every day we strive to uncover new available funding sources. We have historically received support from federal, state, county, and local government agencies. We also conduct significant fundraising campaigns and annual events.

All meals meet 1/3 of the recommended dietary allowances for seniors and are approved by our registered dietitian. Meals may consist of protein, grains, and vegetables. In addition, we provide each client with milk, bread and dessert.

Blizzard boxes are nutritionally complete food packages containing canned goods and dried foods that can be used just in case we are unable to make deliveries due to bad weather. At the beginning of November, we deliver two blizzard boxes to each home and replace them when needed.

We currently have 60 daily meal routes throughout the 32 towns of Hillsborough County -- including the two largest cities in New Hampshire, Nashua and Manchester.
Our drivers start delivering meals around 11:00 am.

We serve and deliver meals on Monday through Friday. (Frozen - weekend meals are available upon request, and are delivered by Friday.)
We are closed on holidays. (We do provide special meals prior to each holiday.)
We are closed on the following holidays:
New Year's Day, Civil Rights Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.

Community dining -- sharing a meal with number of other people in one location.
If you are over 60 years of age, you are invited to join us for lunch on Monday through Friday with other seniors for a nutritious mid-day meal. Nutrition Centers are located throughout Hillsborough County.

Factors contributing to hunger:
While the main goal of our nutrition program is to feed seniors in need, the program provides people with much more than just a meal. Our congregate meal sites give participating seniors the opportunity to socialize with members of the surrounding community, while our Meals on Wheels Program, armed with an array of cheerful and caring volunteers and paid drivers, deliver meals to frail, sick, home-bound seniors.
Poor Health: With age comes an increased chance of becoming dependent on others for help in performing the activities of daily living (walking, dressing, toileting, cooking, bathing) -- 40% of the people we serve are over 80 years old. Chronic illnesses or conditions—such as arthritis, osteoporosis, senile dementia, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory problems, and diabetes—substantially limit mobility, making it difficult and often impossible for many seniors to buy, cook, and prepare nutritious meals.
Low Income: When low income is compounded with poor health, seniors have difficulty obtaining adequate amounts of food. In fact, 4.9 million seniors in the nation have incomes below the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty threshold.