Meals On Wheels for Kids National Collaborative

Founded in 2020 by Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger, the Meals On Wheels National Collaborative was established to increase childhood food security through home-delivered meal (HDM) programs throughout the United States. We do this by partnering together to advocate for hunger relief through HDM programs for some of our nation’s most vulnerable – homebound/transportation-disadvantaged children.

Partner Organizations

Success of the Collaborative depends on the ongoing commitment of a diverse group of national, state, and local organizations, officials, non-profits, university, and residents to aid in ending childhood hunger.

Initiatives and Programs

  • August 2020: Launched MOW4Kids National Collaborative to partner and advocate for home-delivered meal services and Meals on Wheels for Kids Act of 2020
  • September 2020: Met with Congressman Rodney Davis, who introduced the Meals on Wheels for Kids Act of 2020 into legislation; provided bill comments for potential reintroduction in the next Congress, and discussed scheduling a visit from Rep. Davis in January 2021 to tour the different MOW4Kids initiatives in action.
    • The group shared the bill with Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and encouraged providing additional feedback
  • October 2020: Met with congressional staff for Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Kathy Castor, Representative Charlie Crist, Representative Gus Bilirakis, and Representative Ross Spano
    • Congresswoman Kathy Castor cosponsored the Meals on Wheels for Kids Act of 2020
    • We are in process of scheduling several congressional office staffers to visit a MOW4Kids site
  • November 2020: Met with Crystal FitzSimons from Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) who offered insight into timeline and factors that will impact legislation moving forward

Partner Updates

  • (Florida) Joshua’s Heart Foundation developed a home delivery meal program for children utilizing moving trucks and local municipalities
  • (Texas) Baylor Collaborative Meals-to-You served over 40 million meals to kids living in rural areas
    • BC email sent to state agencies with provisional Emergency Meals-to-You service data and toolkit to share with schools to promote their participation in the program
    • BC issued a 12/01/20 national press release; schools and partners can amplify this message with their local stories
  • (Florida) Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger MOW4Kids served over 400,000 meals to homebound or transportation-disadvantaged children and their families; launching national MOW4Kids program expansion January 2020
  • (Atlanta) MOW4Kids Atlanta launches in May 2021.

For more information about the Meals On Wheels for Kids National Collaborative, please contact Caitlyn.Peacock@NetworktoEndHunger.org.