Meals on Wheels America (MOWA) Holds 2017 Conference in Denver

This year the foremost gathering of hundreds of senior nutrition professionals took place in Denver in August.

Jeffrey Pomranka, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud, attended the conference. “It was a very good experience to meet fellow Meals on Wheels colleagues from around the country. To have the ability to gain new insights, share best practices and network is always rewarding. As a result of attending this conference, I now have additional resources at my fingertips.”

Jeff continues, “One aspect of the conference I found extremely valuable was the emphasis on how technology can be used to improve quality of life for seniors - helping to keep them healthy, engaged, and as independent
as possible.”

Conference sessions covered numerous aspects of the Meals on Wheels world, from nutrition to client safety, to finance and funding diversification.

One topic widely discussed at the conference was federal funding. According to MOWA, they are serving 23 million fewer meals today than in 2005 due to funding that has not kept pace with inflation, and the rapid and consistent growth in America’s senior population.

“Assuring adequate federal funding for social programs like Meals on Wheels is not only vital to the health and well-being of at-risk seniors, but it is essential to the health and vibrancy of our nation. We are already losing ground in keeping pace with an exponentially increasing need. The time to act to save lives and money is now,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of MOWA.

Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud receives partial federal funding, administered by the Larimer County Department of Human Services Office on Aging. Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud is a member of Meals on Wheels America.