Mission

Meals on Wheels Erie promotes healthy, independent living through home delivery of nutrition services.

Our Purpose

To enable our participants to maintain the highest possible level of independence in their homes, but at the same time combat the feelings of isolation.

Our History

Locally, Meals on Wheels Erie was founded 49 years ago, in 1971, by Reverend Al Gesler, Jr. from Lawrence Park, PA. Reverend Gesler and several individuals from Lutheran congregations were looking at ways to serve the East Erie communities. They knew there was a need to deliver meals to the homes of the most frail residents of East Erie.

Early on, they partnered with the Visiting Nurse Association to deliver meals to the poor, disabled and elderly who could not prepare meals for themselves. Eventually the organization was taken under the wing of The United Way and it grew to deliver meals in the wider Erie Area. A few years later, Meals on Wheels Erie spun off as its own agency and was incorporated in 1976 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Volunteers became the foundation and the heartbeat of the organization. Without them there would be no Meals on Wheels.

Originally meals were only delivered to clients furnished by GECAC through a contractual relationship. Gradually new programs were added such as the private pay over age 60 program, the under age 60 County funded program and the grocery shopping and delivery program. Our territory in Erie County also expanded.

Today our organization continues to be a strong, viable resource for our community with Reverend Al Gesler still serving faithfully on our Board of Directors.