Have you ever wondered where the meals we deliver each day come from?
Every meal we deliver is the result of collaboration — a shared effort between community partners who are committed to ensuring our clients receive fresh, nutritious, and affordable meals. From the talented youth gaining hands-on experience at the Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) Café to the expertly crafted meals from the team at Apetito, our community partners help us serve hundreds of meals each week to seniors and adults living with disabilities across London.
Behind every plate we deliver is a network of dedicated partners working together to serve our community.
In this post, we’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at where our meals come from and how your support helps keep them accessible to those who need them most.
Our key partner in delivering fresh daily meals is Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), a trusted local organization that empowers youth through skills development and employment training and has worked with Meals on Wheels London for almost 12 years. At the YOU Café, owned and operated by Youth Opportunities Unlimited, young people gain hands-on experience working in a professional kitchen while preparing nutritious meals for our clients as well as hot meals for dine-in and take-out at their downtown restaurant location, from Monday to Friday. Each day, the YOU team carefully cooks and packages the fresh meals that are delivered by our volunteers the very next morning. This partnership not only ensures that our clients receive high-quality, home-style meals made with care, but it also helps local youth build confidence, culinary skills, and brighter futures. It’s a collaboration rooted in community, creating a positive impact at every step.
It’s a collaboration rooted in community, creating a positive impact at every step.
Besides our fresh daily meal program, Meals on Wheels London also offers frozen meal packages to give clients greater flexibility and coverage throughout the week. These meals are provided by Apetito, a leading provider to over 90 Meals on Wheels agencies across Canada. Apetito’s frozen meals are carefully prepared and portioned, making them an ideal option for clients who may not feel like cooking some days or prefer to heat their food when it suits them best. They have a wide variety of dietary options, including a Halal menu, gluten-free options, vegetarian, and vegan meals. Our frozen meal options ensure that no matter the need, there’s always something nourishing on hand.
Our frozen meal options ensure that no matter the need, there’s always something nourishing on hand.
Each fresh meal, which contains a protein, starch, vegetable, and a dessert with delivery straight to our client’s door costs $8.50. For 7 frozen meals, the cost is $46, with over 50 different meals to choose from. Thanks to generous donors and community support, we’re able to offer meals to our clients at a reduced, affordable rate. This ensures that seniors and adults living with disabilities can continue to access nutritious food without financial strain.
Our clients often tell us just how much they love the meals and the care that comes with them. One client shared, “I just love everything. The meals are delicious, the volunteers are the best. I wish I had started this service months ago”.
Another reflected on the support during a difficult time: “I can’t express how helpful the meals were. They were truly a God send. We started it after my father couldn’t cook for himself anymore. It was so helpful to him.“
These stories are at the heart of why we do what we do. In 2024 alone, Meals on Wheels London delivered over 135,000 meals — each one representing comfort, dignity, and connection for a senior or adult living with a disability in our community.
Each meal represents comfort, dignity, and connection for a member of our community.
Your support helps put warm, nutritious meals on the tables of those who need them most. Whether you choose to make a donation, become a volunteer, or simply share our story with someone who could use our services, you’re helping us continue to deliver more than just food—you’re delivering independence, dignity, and care. Every $2.50 donation makes a meal possible.
Help us keep nutritious meals accessible and affordable for seniors and adults with disabilities in London.