The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
West Shore Meals On Wheels has been serving our community for more than 50 years. Founded in 1973 by several of Cleveland’s west side churches, our organization has continually strived to meet the nutritional needs of individuals who face challenges in providing meals for themselves.
We are proud to be a local and independent organization, completely unaffiliated with any national organization or government entity. Our service area includes Lakewood, Rocky River, Fairview Park, and West Park.
Our primary financial support comes from donations and grants provided by our generous community. These contributions enable us to maintain and expand our services to those in need.
Our mission is simple yet powerful: “To deliver affordable, nutritious, freshly prepared meals to anyone in our community experiencing difficulty providing for themselves, regardless of age.”
Many of our clients are elderly. We also serve younger people who require assistance, and we welcome clients who need short-term support—such as those recovering from surgery—for several weeks.
We strive to keep our meals as affordable as possible. Recipients pay $7 for lunch and dinner, while those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits pay just $3 for the two meals. Recipients can choose the days they would like to receive meals.
Meals are prepared in two kitchens: one located at Good Soil Lutheran Church in Rocky River and the other at Fairview Park City Hall. Both kitchens operate Monday through Friday; we served nearly 32,000 meals to our neighbors in 2025.
Volunteers are the Heart of Our Service
Our organization depends on the dedication of our volunteers. Every week delivery drivers and kitchen helpers work together to serve our clients. Volunteers have the flexibility to choose the day they wish to help.
Recruiting volunteers is an ongoing effort. If you or members of your organization are seeking a rewarding volunteer opportunity, we encourage you to get in touch with us.
Delivering meals is about more than just food; for many recipients, a visit from Meals On Wheels may be their only human interaction of the day. A friendly presence, a smile, and a brief conversation can brighten someone’s day and greatly improve their well-being. Delivery routes are kept short, usually requiring about an hour.
Visit our website at westshoremow.org to learn more.
