CHICO — Since the influx of Camp Fire refugees into the city, the number of meals Chico Meals on Wheels delivers on a daily basis has increased by more than 50 percent.
“Many of our clients are living in hotels, low income housing and trailers parked all kinds of places — in orchards, the backs of barns, parking lots of businesses. Our average meals delivered per day has gone from around 80 before the fire to over 125 in April,” said Eric Moxon, board president.
The Paradise Meals on Wheels program was operated out of the Feather River Hospital but had to close operations after the Camp Fire. While most of those the program served were displaced there are still some residents in both communities who depend on the meal delivery, so the Chico-based program is also delivering to those residents.
Currently deliveries of two to three meals at a time are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday. There are about seven people in Magalia and one person in Paradise receiving the service now but Moxon said additional delivery days would be added depending on demand.
“We’ve committed to delivering meals to Paradise and Magalia for at least the next two years. We are the only agency that can fulfill this need, and we will figure out how to get it done,” said Moxon.
The additional deliveries in the Chico area plus ridge deliveries has added both miles and hours to Chico Meals on Wheels routes.
To accommodate the increase in demand, the non-profit hired an additional two drivers bringing the total to six. Recently Golden Valley Bank Community Foundation purchased a new van to add to the program’s fleet.
“We had three 10 to 15-year-old Ford Rangers that all have 100,000 to 160,000 miles on them. This additional delivery vehicle insures that we always have at least three vehicles available for delivery if one is in for maintenance,” said Moxon.
Even before the Camp Fire, Chico Meals on Wheels was already seeing a dramatic increase in clients. In fiscal year 2017-18 the non-profit delivered 29,236 meals, a 10-percent increase over fiscal 2016-17.
“It’s phenomenal growth that’s only increasing because of the Camp Fire,” said Moxon.
As a non-profit, Chico Meals on Wheels depends on donations and grants to provide hot meals to clients 365 days a year. Moxon said community support has been “amazing” with grants and donation coming in from the North Valley Community Foundation, the Stiefavter Senior Endowment, The Exchange Club, Omega Nu and many other community members.
In previous years, the food delivery program has needed to raise $140,000 annually to operate. With the current rate of growth Moxon estimates that amount will jump to $200,000.
“We could very well deliver an extra 20,000 meals this year. Chico Meals on Wheels is very efficient and good at what we do but we need help. If anyone can help us, we would really appreciate it and if anyone needs our help, our services, we want them to know, we’re here for them,” said Moxon.
Chico Meals on Wheels delivered its first meal on January 4, 1971 and has been in continuous operation ever since.
Meals are purchased from Enloe Medical Center and clients pay no more than the purchase price of the meal, approximately $5. No one is turned away due to age or finances and those unable to pay the full cost of the meal are subsidized through grants and fundraising. Ninety-percent of those receiving services are over 55; 67-percent are women; and, 65-percent have an annual income of less than $25,000.
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Chico Meals on Wheels
On the web: www.chicomealsonwheels.org
Telephone: 343-9147
