This is Our Story

In the fall of 1972, following a program sponsored by the American Red Cross on Food for the Elderly, community organizations in New Brunswick formed a planning committee and created a Meals on Wheels Program. Initial funding was provided by The New Brunswick Mutual Foundation. The American Red Cross and St. Peter’s Hospital were the two sponsoring agencies for the new organization.

With St. Peter’s Hospital preparing the food, volunteers delivered the first meals on April 16, 1973. The food continued to be prepared by St. Peter’s until November, 2009 when Meals on Wheels contracted with Promise Catering, a program of Elijah’s Promise in New Brunswick, to prepare the meals.

We now deliver 30,000 meals each year and are currently funded by government grants and private donations.

Since 1973, volunteers have contributed generously of their time which has enabled many elderly and homebound residents of New Brunswick and Highland Park to continue living in their own homes. Currently over eighty volunteers, community organizations and Rutgers University students participate in delivering meals.