News and Events

More Than A Meal

by Feleen Nancarvis
A collaborative initiative between Lancaster Downtowners and Meals on Wheels that will connect seniors aging-in-place in Lancaster City to available support and community networks without duplicating services. Pilot program funding provided by United Way’s Level Up & Launch Grant.

We are excited to announce that we are joining forces with the Lancaster Downtowners! After many, many years of seeking such a partnership, the opportunity has finally arrived.

We are thrilled to come together on a collaborative initiative that we are calling the More Than a Meal program. Before we get into the details, let us tell you about our respective organizations:

Meals on Wheels of Lancaster has been dedicated to serving Lancaster County community for over 55 years. Now delivering meals to 420 clients each day, MOWL continues to seek new ways of expanding our services and reach within the community. Our home-delivered meals services have always been “more than a meal” by incorporating wellness checks and fostering relationships between clients & volunteers. Being welcomed into the homes of clients is an eye-opening experience where we are able to see where additional services are needed.

Lancaster Downtowners is a network of people who share a common passion for downtown Lancaster as the community of choice for their senior years. Downtowners include individuals who have already retired and are living in the city, others who anticipate living downtown for their senior years, and younger people supportive of the Downtowners’ initiative.

To learn more, please visit their website: Lancaster Downtowners

Together, we see opportunities where our services can overlap and, together, we can accomplish so much more than we ever could on our own! With the More Than a Meal program, we aim to provide Downtowners’ volunteer-based services to Meals on Wheels recipients and vis versa. To support this effort in its initial pilot phase, we applied for a grant through the United Way of Lancaster County.

United Way of Lancaster County sets the stage for progress by connecting innovative people with new and existing opportunities to create, fund, advocate, and volunteer to help remove barriers for people by increasing nonprofit organizations’ capacity to do good work and helping businesses more actively participate in this work so more people can live healthier, happier lives.

Their Level Up & Launch grant was the perfect opportunity to capitalize on this partnership. To learn more about the grant, its various recipients, and all that United Way is doing for the Lancaster community, please visit: Level Up & Launch | United Way of Lancaster County (uwlanc.org To learn how you can contribute to this grant opportunity through donations and sponsorships, please scroll to the bottom of this page for more information.

About the Initiative…

This pilot program is open to M.O.W. clients living in the target geographic area (Lancaster City, PA), who are seeking additional support and community. To receive the full benefits of the program clients should be able to:

  • Reliably communicate via phone or email
  • Get in and out of cars independently (if requesting transportation assistance)
  • Enjoy connecting with other participants and volunteers – either in-person, virtually, or via phone.

If you are a senior who is looking to receive services through this program, please contact us
717-392-4842 or morethanameal@lancastermow.org

More Than a Meal will facilitate enriched volunteer opportunities to support a health, safe community. We will share information about enrollment in this pilot program, and how you can volunteer to provide services such as daily check-in calls, social visits, household and yard assistance, technology coaching and more! To learn more about volunteering for the More Than a Meal program, we will host a general information session to get us started:

[Updated Links: Volunteer Training and MTAM Information Sessions]

Date: Fri 1/27
Time: 1 PM to 2 PM (clients)
2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (volunteers)
(you may stay for both sessions if you like)
Location: 1411 Columbia Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603
To RSVP: 717-392-4842 or morethanameal@lancastermow.org

Contributions & Sponsorships

We could not be more grateful to the United Way of Lancaster County for supporting the More Than a Meal program! One of the great things about this grant, is that YOU are able to make financial contributions towards the program as well. As our supporters donate to match this grant, United Way will level up each donation 1:1, up to a total of $45,000.00. You can help match through October 31st! Individuals can make a contribution online using this link or click on the image below.

Business and Organization Sponsor opportunities are also available.

$10,000
Visionary Sponsor

$5,000
Sustaining Sponsor

$1,000
Associate Sponsor

To discuss sponsorship, please reach out to Melissa Ressler, Executive Director of the Lancaster Downtowners, or Feleen Nancarvis, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Lancaster.
Melissa Ressler: director@lancasterdowntowners.org 717-584-1224
Feleen Nancarvis: feleen@lancastermow.org 717-392-4842

Give a gift today!