Call to Action

SOS MEALS ON WHEELS & COVID-19

The world has changed. A lot. In a short time.

We here at SOS Meals on Wheels have been giving OUR ALL to respond to the swiftly shifting circumstances of this tumultuous time with sanity, generosity and initiative. We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Our elderly neighbors who can no longer shop or cook for themselves and are now being asked to keep a distance from their loved ones, rely on us. We pride ourselves on providing a critical safety net service to these people, as we have done for going on 65 years.

In 2019, we served 1,000 seniors in Oakland and 875 in Central Alameda County. We provide roughly 360,000 meals in a given year, 30,000 in a given month—We are looking at a sharp increase in these numbers if we are to respond to the sharp increase in the requests for our service. Yes, people are walking in off the street asking for help for their parent, aunt/uncle, grandparent, neighbor. And the phone is ringing off the hook.

We are responding! It’s why we are all here—to serve the most vulnerable among us. But it’s more complicated now:

55% of our Delivery Drivers are age 65 and older and can no longer deliver meals, per safety recommendations—WE NEED VOLUNTEERS

If we have to stop producing meals, we will do everything we can to avoid an interruption in meal service. We have already purchased tens of thousands of shelf-stable meals, and we will need to order at least $132,000 worth of frozen meals to be delivered directly to our seniors' homes—WE NEED DONATIONS

We are actively recruiting volunteers and asking those who can, to donate generously. The response from our community thus far has been encouraging, but we need more folks to step up. And for those who volunteer, yes, we are observing ALL health and safety precautions and yes, this is considered an “essential service,” exempting drivers from the shelter-in-place directive while delivering meals to seniors.

The time is now. For acts of kindness, big and small. To usher forth the most generous, creative, compassionate versions of ourselves. To fight for our dignity and humanity.

If you are able, PLEASE VOLUNTEER OR DONATE TODAY. We are in this together and will get through this together. —SOS Meals onWheels Staff