Rockingham Nutrition & Meals on Wheels

The Rockingham Nutrition and Meals on Wheels Program was founded in the fall of 1978. Prior to that Strafford County was running a small senior dining hall program in Rockingham, with 6 locations, a few days per week. That first year we served around 60,000 meals, all in community dining halls. There were no Meals on Wheels. Thirty seven years later, we are serving in the range of 290,000 to 300,000 meals.

The focus and founding of the program is helping people to stay well, by eating right, and the safety and social supports that come with the program. It is simple, but critical.

The funding impetus for these programs came from the Older Americans Act of 1965. Its purpose reads “ to provide older Americans, particularly those at risk, with low cost nutritionally sound meals served in strategically located centers, where they can obtain nutrition, and other services. Besides promoting better health among the older segment of the population through improved nutrition, such a program is aimed at reducing the isolation of old age, offering older Americans the opportunity to live their remaining years in dignity.” Guide to Effective Project Operations, April 1973.) The spirit of these services has always been about the dignity of older Americans.

Although the funding impetus came initially from the Older Americans Act, the Act never has, and continues to fund only a portion of the cost of the program. Therefore we must fundraise around 40% of the cost of each meal, up to a limit, and when we are over the limit we must fundraise 100%.