The Meals On Wheels Research Foundation (MOWRF) is the only research entity of its kind focused exclusively on the areas of senior hunger and senior nutrition in the United States. MOWRF seeks to support the Meals On Wheels Association of America’s (MOWAA) vision of ending senior hunger by 2020 through the sponsorship and promotion of research that increases understanding and awareness of the issue. Ending senior hunger is within our reach.

Research Initiatives

Senior Hunger in America: An Annual Report

This annual report series is the gold standard against which we will measure, examine and evaluate the trends related to senior hunger from year to year. The yearly updates will equip local Meals On Wheels programs with the information they need to serve their communities better in the near term. The Senior Hunger in America series will bring national attention and awareness to the progress we are making, as a nation, to end senior hunger.

The 2010 Annual Report, prepared for MOWRF by Dr. James P. Ziliak of the University of Kentucky and Dr. Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois, is now available HERE.

You will find that currently 14.85% of seniors, or more than 1 in 7, face the threat of hunger. From 2001 to 2010, the number of seniors experiencing the threat of hunger has increased by 78%.

Our Pennsylvania state level of threat is 14.8%, about the average overall, and ranks 20th in the country. Ohio’s level is 15.78% and New York is at 13.79%.