Our History:
From our humble beginnings in Sister Lucille Stewart’s own home to today’s full-service commercial kitchen on Cedar Hill Road, Meals on Wheels has grown and changed to meet the needs of our county’s seniors. We’ve come a long way together over past 46 years, never losing sight of our mission of service.
1973 – Retired teacher Sister Lucille Stewart, with the help of Thelma Dagger and Dorothy LeSar, began cooking and delivering hot soup to poor older women in Lancaster.
1974 – To meet the growing needs, the meal preparation and delivery moved to Cameo Caterers in the YMCA’s kitchen. The cooking and delivery continued to be done by volunteers. A Board of Trustees was formed, and Fairfield Community Meals, Inc. became a 501(c)3 private, non-profit organization. Olivedale Senior Center offered their under-construction kitchen for preparing future meals.
1975 – Olivedale Senior Center’s kitchen was utilized for meal preparation, and Beverly Rowles was hired as the first employee and Executive Director of the newly incorporated 501(c)(3), “Fairfield Community Meals.” Title III funding from the Older American’s Act contributed to the home delivered meals program. Five other programs were funded by Title III over the next 21 years.
1979 – A larger kitchen was built. Services grew.
1994—Fairfield Community Meals changed names to Meals on Wheels of Fairfield County, Inc.
1997 – The facility was enlarged to provide additional kitchen space, office space, and basement storage. This would be the agency’s last renovation for the next 18 years. The agency served 130,427 for the year.
1999 – The Agency hired a Diet Technician who started the Therapeutic Diet program.
2000 – Meals on Wheels became a member of the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Grants provided funds to purchase a minivan, storage shed, reach-in refrigerator and two new computers.
2001 – Title III funded the Caregiver Support Program. Meals on Wheels became the Fairfield County hub for the Commodities Supplemental Food Program and the county’s office on aging.
2002-- Adopted the name Meals on Wheels Older Adult Alternatives of Fairfield County, Inc.
2004 – In partnership with the County Commissioners, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging and the Older Adult Network, the Agency’s first Senior Services Levy was passed.
2005 – On January 1, Levy funding started. Services available tripled during this first year of levy funding. The new funding eliminated the need for a waiting list for services.
2008 – A second Senior Services levy was passed. Services continued to grow.
2010 – On January 1, funding from the renewed Senior Services Levy started.
2013 –A third Senior Services levy was passed.
2015—On January 1, funding from the renewed Senior Services Levy started. Meals served during 2015, 230,000 meals; since its inception in 1973 the agency has served over 4.8 million meals. The agency is out of space to meet demand for meal services.
2017-Meals on Wheels raised funds to purchase the retired Cedar Heights Elementary school and to make renovations to the facility transforming it into the new home to Meals on Wheels. With this purchase, the agency became landowners for the first time in the organization’s history.
2018-The agency placed a .5 mil renewal levy with an increase of .3 mil to support the growing demand for services to older adults in Fairfield County.
2019-Renovations to the facility are completed. The agency moved to into the newly renovated Meals on Wheels Senior Services Center on March 11, 2019.
2023-The Agency placed a .8 mil replacement levy on the ballot which was approved by the voters in support of the growing demand and provision of services for older adults living in Fairfield County.
2023 – Celebrated the Agency's 50th Anniversary of service to our County.
2024 – New branding adopted to reflect we serve more than just meals. The new brand: The Senior Hub-the local Meals on Wheels provider gives the Agency a platform to promote the 20+ services offered to improve the health, connection, and independent living of older adults in living in Fairfield County.
2026-The Agency is on track for serving over 3,200 older adults this year and nearing the 8 millionth meal served since the Meals on Wheels program began.
