We envision a community where no senior, veteran, or homebound resident is left hungry, forgotten, or isolated. Through the power of collective volunteer action and community donations, we strive to build a stronger, more compassionate neighborhood for all our clients.
The Heart of Our Work
We are dedicated to nourishing and enriching the lives of our homebound neighbors—including our honored veterans—by providing nutritious food, vital social connection, and a helping hand.
Since 1976, we have operated as a volunteer-driven, non-profit community service organization. We ensure that individuals who cannot plan, shop, or prepare meals for themselves due to illness, disability, or advanced age can remain safe, independent, and self-sufficient in their own homes.
Our Mission
Meals on Wheels of West Los Angeles is dedicated to helping the disabled, aged and chronically or temporarily ill, by providing nourishing food at a nominal cost during a period of need and to assuring a friendly interest and a helping hand so that people can remain self-sufficient in their own homes.
Our History: Celebrating 50 Years of Care
Meals on Wheels of West Los Angeles, originally sponsored by the University Religious Conference, picked up its first meals on September 15, 1976, from UCLA Hospital kitchens and delivered them to twenty-four clients in the West Los Angeles area. This all came about as a direct result of calls for help from the elderly, the sick, and the frail in the geographical area.
Over the decades, as the needs of our community grew, so did our reach. Landmark partnerships—such as the historic American Wine & Food Festival founded by Wolfgang Puck and Barbara Lazaroff in 1982—helped fuel our expansion and cemented our role as a vital neighborhood resource.
Today, celebrating 50 years of continuous service, we have grown from a grassroots effort into a robust community pillar. While our scale has transformed, our core promise remains exactly the same as it was in 1976: to deliver nourishment, dignity, and a friendly face to those who need it most.
Be Part of Our Purpose
It takes an entire community to support our homebound neighbors. Explore how you can make a difference today:
Give your time to deliver hot meals, smiles, and wellness checks to local residents.
Your financial gifts directly fund meal preparation and help us expand our reach.
Learn more about our program guidelines or sign up a veteran or loved one in need.
“I don’t know what I would do without Meals on Wheels. It is not just about the food that gets delivered everyday; it’s about the friends who bring me that food. They keep me young.”
—Gertie, Brentwood, Age 39 (again)