Our History

1977

• Meals on Wheels of Solano County was founded in 1977 in Vallejo, CA by Grace Merkling. Grace and a group of citizens were concerned for the health and well-being of homebound seniors who were unable to shop and prepare their meals. In 1977 and continuing for many years,  Meals on Wheels volunteers and staff delivered to home bound seniors, one nutritionally balanced meal daily, seven days a week and 365 days a year from Sutter Solano Hospital in Vallejo and NorthBay Hospital in Fairfield.

2001

• For the first time, Meals on Wheels of Solano County began to prepare the senior meals in their own acquired central kitchen located in the Marina Shopping Center in Suisun City. During this time, Meals on Wheels of Solano County expanded the meal service programs to include home delivered meals and congregate dining sites for seniors living in the seven cities in Solano County. We hired a registered dietitian who prepared the monthly menus for 22 home delivery routes and 8 congregate dining sites located at the local senior centers throughout the county.

2009

• Today, Meals on Wheels of Solano County consists of 26 employees, only two of whom work full-time. We have more than 75 volunteers to help deliver meals to homebound seniors or to assist at congregate dining sites daily. Currently, we serve over 600 clients a day and provide over 12,000 meals a month in Solano County.