How We Serve: MOBILE MEALS

ICS Mobile Meals volunteers deliver fresh nutritious meals each weekday to older, physically challenged, or convalescing adults who are unable to cook for themselves.

Through the Mobile Meals service, we aim to:

• Maintain or restore clients′ health;
• Help avoid hospital/nursing home stays;
• Hasten recuperation during convalescence;
• Accommodate special diets; and,
• Provide a sliding scale fee based on recipients′ income.

Area hospitals and care facilities prepare the meals in partnership with ICS. These meals are very important in maintaining our recipient′s health, but it is "more than food." The daily contact with our trained volunteers helps our volunteers observe the overall well-being of our recipients and alert our staff if there are other issues that need addressed.

ICS Mobile Meals are available in the northwest part of metropolitan Tucson.

Referrals are received from partner faith communities, parish nurses, social service agencies, family members, and individuals in need. Cost of the meals is determined by ability to pay. Through donations and grants, ICS is able to supplement the meal cost for those unable to pay the full meal cost.

ICS Mobile Meals drivers qualify for mileage reimbursement. Funding is made possible through the Regional Transportation Authority. This reimbursement currently is set at the federal business rate of 58 cents per mile.

Click Here to volunteer with ICS Mobile Meals.

Success stories

An 82-year-old woman′s Mobile Meals driver noticed when he arrived with her lunch and dinner that the TV was on, but no one came to the door. He could hear a faint cry for help so he called 911. The woman has a heart condition and arthritis, and uses a walker for mobility. It turned out that she was stuck in the bathroom, where she had fallen, and needed assistance and temporary hospitalization.

"I am 81 years old and have a lot of health problems. These meals five days a week are a Godsend."