Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY broke ground on the property of their future headquarters on Oct. 29. The site, commonly known as the former John Nolan Ford dealership, is located at 3251 Highland Ave. in Columbia Township. Renovation of the property is the centerpiece of Meals on Wheels’ transformational, $30-million Driving Into The Future Campaign.
Meals on Wheels announced the launch of the campaign last April. On Oct. 29, the nonprofit held a ground-breaking ceremony to continue this significant project and provide campaign updates for the community. Senior clients, nonprofit leadership and Driving Into The Future Campaign partners and supporters were present.
Mike Dunn, CEO of Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY, announced the nonprofit has, within the last six months, raised $24.4 million towards the campaign’s $30-million goal.
Said Dunn, “The new facility will enable us to address a growing senior population’s increasing needs. We are so appreciative of the community’s support of this important initiative.”
Mike Murphy, a longtime member of the Meals on Wheels Board of Directors and Principal at Champlin | EOP, provided technical insight into the new building.
Said Murphy, “The workflow within the building is intentionally planned and was developed to make the process more efficient and safer. Construction for this new headquarters and meals production center means the space we work from will no longer be a limiting factor in how much good we can do for seniors in the region.”
The new Meals on Wheels headquarters will equip the nonprofit with the capacity to expand core service offerings of home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, social and protective services, pet support, and health and wellness programs.
Mary Mitts, a senior client who is part of the home-delivered meals and Digital Connect programs, spoke at the ceremony. She said that after having had surgery, her mobility challenges made it difficult to cook and stay connected socially. Heating up a meal in the microwave is far preferable to standing and preparing food.
Said Mitts, "I was in the hospital, I was in assisted living, I was in therapy, and Meals on Wheels became so important to me because it allowed me to have my independence."
About the Campaign
The Driving Into The Future Campaign is the single largest campaign in the history of Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY. It is our comprehensive response to the nation’s crisis on aging and it is designed to improve the lives of our community’s seniors—a population that is projected to grow tremendously.
Currently, Meals on Wheels reaches over 10,000 seniors in 13 counties with its spectrum of essential services. Fueled by a successful completion of this campaign, we will be able to reach up to 30,000 seniors with an expansion of services and increased production capabilities.
Our new facility will include a larger, safer and more efficient kitchen and distribution center that will enable us to increase our annual meal production from 1.2 million to 3 million. It will also have the capacity for Meals on Wheels to diversify revenue through social enterprise opportunities, grow private-pay services for older adults who do not qualify for assistance, enhance collaboration opportunities with area nonprofit organizations and become a one-stop resource for seniors, families and caregivers.
Occupancy is slated for late 2026.
Driving Into The Future Campaign partners include Champlin | EOP, DNK Architecture, InLine Engineers and Danis Construction to renovate the property and bring our new facility to its feet.
Meals on Wheels has gratefully received an anonymous lead gift, along with other leading contributions from The Farmer Family Foundation; The Yung Family Foundation; The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation; Ohio State Capital Funding; Harold C. Schott Foundation; United Dairy Farmers; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; The R.C. Durr Foundation; Johnson Charitable Gift Fund; Clement and Ann Buenger Foundation; Bruggen Foundation; First Financial Bank; Procter & Gamble; and The Thomas J. Emery Memorial.
How You Can Support the Campaign
Visit our Driving Into The Future Campaign page to learn more and make a gift towards the campaign’s $30-million goal here. Follow our social channels for campaign news on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. For individuals or companies seeking more specific ways to support the Driving Into The Future Campaign, contact Mike Hogan, Chief Advancement Officer, at 513-244-0672 or mhogan@muchmorethanameal.org.