By Chuck Allen
Pastor, Sugar Hill Church
SUGAR HILL, Ga. | For many senior adults in Gwinnett County, maintaining independence while facing mobility challenges, health issues, or financial constraints can be a significant challenge. Fortunately, Neighborhood Meals on Wheels (NMOW) serves as a vital lifeline, delivering not just nutritious meals but also meaningful human connections to our community’s most vulnerable members.
Chuck Allen
NMOW prepares fresh, nutritious meals for senior adults in Gwinnett County and delivers them directly to recipients’ homes each weekday. This service eliminates the physical and logistical barriers that many seniors face when it comes to grocery shopping, meal preparation, and accessing proper nutrition.
Jenny Allen, executive director of Neighborhood Meals on Wheels, explains: “Our mission goes beyond simply providing food. We’re committed to supporting seniors’ ability to age in place with dignity and independence. The daily meal delivery also serves as a regular wellness check and friendly interaction that many of our clients eagerly anticipate.”
Sugar Hill Church provides the kitchen space NMOH presently uses. They also fund about 20 percent of the operating budget. The membership currently comprises approximately 30 percent of our 300 volunteers. The church plans to open a satellite campus in Peachtree Corners this summer.
At present NMOW serves just under 5,000 meals each month. At the present growth rate, it will eclipse 63,000 meals this year.
Neighborhood Meals on Wheels was founded in 1979 as Norcross Meals on Wheels. It was initially a part of Norcross First United Methodist Church. In 2021, the Sugar Hill congregation inherited the work and were serving approximately 13 meals each day, primarily in and around Norcross. Starting in 2022, Sugar Hill Church expanded its existing kitchen and strengthened its financial position. Since that time, it has grown from serving 3,400 meals in 2022 to over 60,000 in 2025. The church is building a new kitchen later this year to triple its meal output.
What sets NMOW apart is its commitment to freshness and quality. Unlike frozen meal programs, NMOW offers freshly prepared meals that meet seniors’ nutritional needs while remaining appetizing and enjoyable. Each meal is carefully balanced to support the unique dietary requirements of older adults.
Perhaps equally important to the nutritional benefits is the personal connection formed between volunteers and meal recipients. For many seniors who live alone, the brief daily visit from an NMOW volunteer might be their only human interaction of the day. These moments of connection help combat the isolation and loneliness that too often accompany aging.
The program operates as a free service, ensuring that financial constraints never prevent seniors from receiving the nutrition and care they need. This accessibility is crucial in helping older adults maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes, a preference expressed by the vast majority of seniors.
Behind this community service is a network of dedicated volunteers who donate their time to ensure that Gwinnett’s seniors receive both nourishment and companionship. These volunteers often develop meaningful relationships with the seniors on their routes, creating a community of care that extends beyond mere meal delivery.
For families concerned about elderly loved ones living independently, NMOW provides peace of mind. Knowing that a caring volunteer will check in on their family member each weekday offers reassurance that someone is looking out for their well-being.
If you know a senior who could benefit from Neighborhood Meals on Wheels, or if you’re interested in supporting their mission through volunteering or donations, visit neighborhoodmealsonwheels.org or call 770-881-2134 to learn more about how you can help ensure no senior in our community goes without proper nutrition and human connection.
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