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On Rob at Home...

The rising need of serving Sacramento area seniors.

Meals on Wheels executive director Kevin McAllister is my guest and shares how Meals on Wheels delivers 50,000 meals a week, and growing.

Hear how Meals on Wheels brings much more than just food and how a team of 500 volunteers answers the call, one meal at a time.

Kevin McAllister joins me next, on Rob at Home.

And now Rob on the Road, exploring Northern California.

I'm so thrilled to have Kevin McAllister joining us here on Rob at Home.

Kevin is the executive director of Meals on Wheels, Sacramento.

It's great to see you, Kevin.

Great to see you, too.

So glad to have you here.

And I have to tell you, I...

I've seen your work and your name, uh, popping up in things across Sacramento.

You were just featured, um, in Comstock's magazine as sort of "one to watch," which I think is great.

Um, and... and I just have to say that your service that you do at Meals on Wheels is more important- I would say- than ever, after we have been through such, uh, extreme crisis with the pandemic.

First of all, um, is that right?

Is your need growing?

It- Yes, it is growing.

Uh, prior to the start of the pandemic, we were serving roughly, I'd say, 1600 people a day.

And once the pandemic hit, we were serving over 3,000 people a day.

Wow!

You doubled.

Doubled in size.

It... it... it was pretty... pretty crazy.

[Laughs] So, as many, um, as many places shuttered during the pandemic, you had to double your services.

Um, and as an executive director, that responsibility falls on you.

- Absolutely.

- How did you... how did you do that?

I have a fantastic team, uh, really.

Um, we... we came together.

The community came together to really support us.

Uh, so, at the start of the pandemic, we had over 20 sites where seniors could go for meals.

And then, we had to shut those all down and then start delivering to their homes, so- in addition to our other program for home delivered- the- uh, our home-delivered meal program, which serves homebound, uh, seniors.

So, we were driving all over the county.

Uh, but we had support.

Um, and, you know, the first two weeks of the pandemic, when things shut down, uh, law enforcement joined us, uh, to... to deliver meals.

Firefighters, paramedics, uh, the National Guard.

So, it was... it was really- It was awesome to have that type of support from the community.

You saw so much need during that time.

And I want to get to the feedback on that need in a minute.

Um, but where did you get all the food just like that, overnight?

How do you... how do you grow?

How do you double?

Did you have to lean on restaurants?

We did lean on restaurants and we leaned on our... our primary vendor.

So, we started preparing for COVID and the shutdown in around January.

So, we... we... we started ordering supplies in advance.

So, frozen meals and also, we started, um, making shelf-stable meal boxes.

Uh, so, at the start of the pandemic, we had, like, over, I think, three apartment complexes downtown, uh, for the- specifically for the senior community.

And so, um, the community meals program came together, which, uh, involved over five or six local restaurants to prepare meals daily for those seniors.

So, we had Mulvaney's, uh, Binchoyaki, Canon, and a host of other, uh, restaurants that were preparing their meals.

- That's good food.

- Oh, great food.

Right?

[Rob laughs] And, uh, we also, you know, leaned on one of our vendors, uh, that prepares frozen meals for us.

So, we... we stocked up on meals pretty early on.

Uh, probably in mid-January, we started, uh, getting more meals, getting shelf-stable meals, as well, to prepare.

So, when you would see your volunteers, people who stepped up to the plate to deliver, you would see need, um- First of all, you've already seen need that other people typically do not see, because you're seeing people who are often alone.

Um, and then, with the pandemic, you're seeing the people who would come to the, um, community, uh, locations have to stay home.

So, then, they're newly isolated.

You saw a lot of heart, um, a heart- a lot of heartache, but you also saw a lot of good.

Can you tell me some stories about encounters that you know of with people?

Yeah, we- So, you know, our participants were so happy to see us daily.

Uh, to make- They weren't able to see their own families at that time.

We didn't know a lot, at the start of the pandemic.

So, you know, people that were already isolated were even more isolated.

But our drivers continued to go out, visit with them, of course, you know, socially distanced, and to check in on them.

And that's... that's really what our program is about.

It's about building those relationships.

Uh, food is a part of it, but it really is about, um, the friendships that our... our drivers and our volunteers develop.

They're like family.

And, um, you know, it was so funny.

At the start of the pandemic, you know, we... we actually did shut down for a couple of weeks.

We made, you know, double, triple deliveries so that all of our, you know, seniors had meals.

And then we... we took a step back to see, "OK, so, how are we gonna con- How will we continue to do this and meet the need?"

And, uh, one of my drivers came to me and said, "What is my participant supposed to do on garbage day?

I take out her garbage."

And I just, like, sat there and was like, "Wow."

And then another driver said, "Well, I open, you know, jars for one of my participants because it's really hard for her to open jars."

And so, I really got to hear so much more about the relationships that, you know, our team members have with the participants that we serve.

And, um, yeah, it was- They... they appreciated us being there and making calls daily to check in on them and make sure that they had what they needed.

It was really challenging at the beginning.

Remember, we didn't have- we didn't even have toilet paper.

So, we had a lot of participants calling us saying, "Hey, I couldn't make it to the store and everything is gone.

Can you bring me toilet paper?"

And we did.

Let me ask you this.

We talk about need.

What are the needs today of Meals on Wheels, Sacramento?

What do you need from the community?

Ah.

We need a lot more delivery drivers to support our organization.

At the start of the pandemic, we lost a lot of our volunteers because most of our volunteers are 65 and above.

And so, again, we had to make a shift and ask them to stay home because they were, you know, most at risk of severe illness from COVID.

And so, that's when we lost a lot.

And some are coming back.

We're... we're very fortunate to have a lot of those team members back, but we need more.

Is it volunteer or paid?

Volunteer.

- Okay.

- So, all of our- Yeah, we have volunteer drivers and we have our paid drivers.

But with our volunteer drivers, uh, we actually offer mileage reimbursement.

- Mmhmm.

- And that's something we've always done, but it's even more important now, as, you know, gas is $7 a gallon.

- Yeah.

And that, of course, is having a ripple effect on... on all things, including food costs.

Um, how are you able to financially make Meals on Wheels work?

Do the clients and recipients pay?

Do all the clients pay for the... for the meals?

So, all of our meals are free.

Um, we do ask for a suggested contribution, um, of $3 from our participants.

However, yeah, we- most of our funds come from federal state dollars and also, we fundraise a lot.

-Mmhmm.

- And so, that's... that is how we're able to continue providing meals, is through our fundraising efforts.

I mean, alone, this year, our food costs have tripled.

And so, we... we need to fundraise more than ever.

Um, do- When someone- You know, you say there's a sug... there's a suggested donation, if you will.

If someone cannot make that, you still feed them.

Absolutely.

Um, what is the criteria?

So, for both of our programs, it... it... it's different.

Um, for the congregate nutrition program, they just need to be 60 and better.

We say "better," instead of older.

So, 60 and better.

- Oh, I like that.

- Yeah.

And for the, uh, home-delivered meal program, which is, you know, for our more frail, homebound participants, uh, it's 60 and better as well, but they're, um, essentially, assessed by our caseworkers to determine if they're a good fit for that program or if they're a better fit for our, uh, congregate nutrition program.

And then, we have a third program which is, uh, called "Dishes," and that is a program that came out of COVID, honestly.

Uh, that's our restaurant meal program and, uh, a voucher program for seniors 60 and above as well.

And that one has been so much fun because, you know, part of- I feel like part of my role is not only to... to provide meals and- you know, to seniors and for staff to make those, you know, friendly visits, but it's to also support Sacramento County and rebuilding after COVID.

And so, by partnering with different restaurants, we're supporting our local economy.

And that's something that I... that I believe in.

Um- Tell me about the vouchers.

So, people get vouchers to go to restaurants?

Yes!

So, it's on a card.

It's a card.

And we reload the card every month.

And, um, some get five- I think it's about five meals a week, uh, that they get.

And so, we work with, uh, Drewski's Hot Rod Kitchen, uh, for that program, uh, BurgerIM, Cafe Elk Grove, and a few other.

They're all great.

All great.

Absolutely.

Let me ask you this.

Um, we were talking about, you know, what it takes, the criteria.

Do- Is there any need for financial proof?

None.

Wow!

None at all.

Right?

Isn't that great?

And that's... that's one of the challenges with our program is... is educating the community on... on our programs and services and letting them know that this is a benefit.

It's not- You don't need to show proof of income.

Uh, essentially, you don't even need to show proof of age.

I mean, we... we don't turn people away.

Well, here's your chance then, if one of your biggest challenges is... is educating the community.

Have at it.

What do you want people to know about Meals on Wheels?

Run through it.

All right!

[Laughs] Well, I want everyone to know that Meals on Wheels is a free program for all seniors 60 and better in Sacramento County, whether it's for the congregate nutrition program, Dishes program or the home-delivered meal program, there is something for everyone.

Amazing.

That's amazing.

Um, let me ask you, thi- the- You mentioned "60 and better."

Um, so, you're talking about parents and grandparent, uh, ages, um, or, of course, anyone who... who is that age and doesn't have a family.

Um, and I...

I do want to ask you, um, do you- Is there something in your family that made you want to do this?

Your... your grandparents or parents- Is there... is there a personal hook to why you do what you do?

You know, it really wasn't family.

It was- Now that I think about it was more so when I worked at the Family Justice Center, where we, uh, focused on, um, support for victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, uh, sexual assault and elder abuse.

And it was the elder abuse cases that really opened my eyes to the needs of seniors that are lonely and isolated.

And, you know, for a lot of those clients that we served, we would connect them to Meals on Wheels locally.

And that's how I learned about Meals on Wheels.

I hadn't even heard about the program before.

And then, when we started referring- Because with Meals on Wheels, you're getting that daily check-in from someone.

They are looking at, you know, changing condition.

So, one day you see a participant and they're glowing, they're great, they're healthy.

And a couple of days later, you notice that their health is declining.

Then, that driver will actually connect with their emergency contact and let them know what they're seeing.

So, it's really awesome to be the eyes and ears in the community, um, when others can't be there.

That is so cool that you, um, found that connection.

Were you at the Sacramento Family Justice Center?

No, I was at the, uh, Family Justice Center for Solano County.

OK.

So, and you saw the need, uh, for... for... for seniors who were... were facing elder abuse.

Um, that, in and of itself, is... is a very tough pill to swallow.

And so is hungry seniors.

That's just difficult to see.

Um, how has it been, going from one side, so to speak, to the other, having to... to... to deal with elder abuse into, well, elder nourishment?

It's... it's been a shift, uh, but a fun one, right?

Because when you're dealing with abuse versus resources, and making those connections in person.

What do you want in your drivers?

You know, you said you're looking for volunteers.

What do you want from people?

What type of person?

And when can they do it?

I mean, do they- if it's someone who works full-time, how would they fit in?

Yeah, we have different shifts.

We have morning shifts, um, primarily.

Uh, I believe it's 9 to 12.

We have different shifts where we deliver hot meals to, uh, group... groups of seniors throughout Sacramento County.

What am I looking for?

You know, someone that loves building relationships, someone that loves making, you know, those connections and, um, yeah, just enjoys our seniors.

Sorry, that's a hard one because we... we have... we have such fantastic volunteers.

Some of, uh, our volunteers have been with us for 20- over 20 years, and they're... they're dedicated and they love seeing their people.

We are seeing the population, especially with people, um, you know, above 60, with- with- That population is... is growing.

And I saw some estimates from Meals on Wheels, in fact, um, that by 2040- 2040, which is not that far away- um, the number of seniors that will need meals in this area is going to dramatically increase.

What are you doing to plan for that now?

Are you having to build out, plan bigger?

We are.

So, we are actually in the process of building a local meal production kitchen... - Oh, wow!

- ...yeah- so that we can, um, meet that need.

Right now, we're talking about securing a facility that would allow for us to produce 20,000 meals a day, if needed.

And so, we just started that... that journey.

20,000 meals a day.

Do you think that will be the need?

I hope not.

No.

[Laughs] I mean, I... I- There's- Right now, we have over three thou- what is it?

- 300,000 seniors in Sacramento County, and every year, we... we only serve about 6500 seniors.

So, we're barely scratching the surface.

Mmhmm.

Well, and also, the numbers that I saw were that by 2040, there could potentially be 900,000.

- Yes.

- And so, that's the dramatic, um, jump that you're preparing for.

Exactly.

So, what is it about your program that you feel is that... that magic that makes it work?

Because there's a halo effect around Meals on Wheels when you mention it, um, and everybody just wants to jump in and... and help.

Have you been able to identify- besides the obvious, you know, it's that feeding people is so crucial and important.

But have you been able to find out what that magic is that makes it all work?

That is such a hard question.

Because it's- The- You know, the obvious is that people need to eat, but there's more to it with Meals on Wheels.

Is it the human contact?

It is the human contact.

That is- That's what- It's... it's... it's the love that our staff and volunteers bring, uh, to work.

Like, it's not a job for them.

It's... it's more than that.

And that's why our slogan is "More than a meal."

And we are so much more than a meal.

What is the "more"?

More.

Um, you know, we're checking in.

We're supporting them with community resources.

We're ensuring that they're... that they're healthy.

We're connecting with their emergency contacts, um, with their family members.

We see them on the holidays.

We deliver meals, uh, even to their pets.

We have an "animeals" program, which is really cool, uh, because we noticed that some of our seniors that couldn't afford pet food, uh, they were actually giving their meals to their pets, which wasn't good for the pet or... or our participant.

Right?

So, we started delivering pet food.

So, we... we go above and beyond.

We even deliver holiday gifts, uh, for our... for our... our participants, uh, during the holiday season.

More than a meal.

I...

I love that.

That's a... that's a fantastic slogan.

Um, and I- You know, I totally...

I totally see why there's so much buzz around what you're doing at Meals on Wheels, because there is such a through line of lifting the region by one person connecting to another.

And we can never forget the power of human connection, um, and I just- I salute you for what you're doing.

Um, and of course, this Region Rising segment is all about how you're helping other people.

And it sounds like it benefits the volunteers as much as it does the recipients, in different ways, but the reward is there.

It does.

And, you know, I appreciate that.

It really is my team.

Like, I really- I...

I have a team of over 50 staff and over 500 volunteers that make this happen.

- Wow!

That's a big team.

- It's big, and they're incredible.

And so, I can't- You know, I can't take the credit because they do the work.

They are- And they're so good at it.

And, uh, I just, I'm...

I'm kind of there.

It's a well-oiled machine, but the love that they bring, the commitment, it is- it- it's what keeps me going.

Like, watching them makes me work harder because I know that they... they care.

And that's... that's so hard.

It's so hard to find staff and volunteers that truly care about the mission, that truly care about the people that we're serving and... and... and their overall wellbeing.

- And it's- - I love that.

- It is one of those things.

It's like, it sounds so corny, right?

But it's... it's true.

It doesn't sound corny at all.

Not one bit.

And I think that, um, it is always a good time to put out the call to make sure that we all check on people who are alone, seniors who are alone, um, who are alone, and make sure that they are getting what they need when they need it, and that they are not without the human connection.

I had someone tell me during the... the pandemic that, uh, their only human connection had been with their barber, and that that stopped during the pandemic.

And when you think about that, that someone's only human contact was with their barber before that, um, you understand the need.

And so, where there's- where there are hungry mouths, the need is so great.

And I appreciate and salute you for all that you do.

Kevin McAllister, thank you so much, executive director of the Meals on Wheels in Sacramento, feeding more than 3,000 people a day right now in our region.

Good to see you.

Good to see you, too.

Thank you.

♪♪ Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld, LLP, focusing on business law and commercial litigation, is proud to support Rob on the Road - Region Rising.

More information available at murphyaustin.com.