Meals On Wheels of Tampa

Who Can Visit?

Meals On Wheels of Tampa delivers hot meals to seniors and homebound residents in the Greater Tampa area. To be eligible, you must live in Hillsborough County within the service zip codes, be home between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM for delivery, pass a background check, and meet one of the following conditions: be age 62 or older, or be homebound due to a physical disability that makes it difficult to leave home or prepare meals. Caregivers and spouses may also be eligible. There is no waiting list.

Application is required before meal service can begin. You can apply by filling out the online form at mowtampa.org/meal-service or by calling (813) 238-8410.

How to Register?

Fill out the Meal Service Application online or call the office. After submitting, you'll receive a confirmation phone call from the intake coordinator within five business days. The call takes about 15 minutes and will ask for your name, address, phone number, health status, and an emergency contact. Meal service begins immediately following the confirmation call.

Items Needed for Registration

During the intake call, staff will ask for your name, address, phone number, health status, monthly income, mobility information, and the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

How Often You Can Visit?

Meals are delivered Monday through Friday. You may receive meals as few as three days a week. Service can be suspended for up to 30 days without being removed from the program, as long as you call the office by 12:00 PM the day before. Weekend frozen meals are delivered on Fridays.

Good to Know

• Meals On Wheels of Tampa does not accept government funding. It is 100% community funded.
• Meal costs are based on a sliding scale depending on your monthly income. The highest price is $5.50 per meal.
• You must be home during the delivery window of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Volunteers are not allowed to leave meals unattended.
• If you have a doctor's appointment, call the office by 12:00 PM the previous day to cancel that day's delivery.
• Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• The office is closed on major holidays, but frozen meals are prepared and delivered before the holiday.
• Menus are available in both English and Spanish.

Food & Essentials

Hot, freshly prepared meals are delivered daily. Each meal includes a protein, one to two servings of starch, and one to two servings of vegetables or fruit, plus a side. On Mondays a specialty salad is included, and on Thursdays an additional healthy side is added. Frozen weekend meals are provided on Fridays.

There are three menu options to choose from: Heart Healthy, Diabetic Friendly, and Renal Friendly. All menus can be pureed or chopped. Meals follow a 28-day rotating menu.

How to Pick Up

This is a home delivery service. Trained, background-checked volunteers bring your meal directly to your door Monday through Friday between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The driver can bring the meal inside and set it on a table or put it in the refrigerator if needed.

Additional Support

Recipients also receive these extras free of charge:

• Produce on Wheels (POW!): A fresh bag of produce delivered on the 3rd Saturday of most months, typically including lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, oranges, bananas, green peppers, and sweet potatoes.
• Water on Wheels (WOW!): Water deliveries for recipients.
• Animeals: Free dog and cat food delivered by the Humane Society of Tampa Bay for recipients who have pets.
• Hurricane Preparedness Packs: Five shelf-stable meals delivered in mid-June each year.
• Birthday Cake and Card: Delivered with the daily meal on your birthday.
• Thanksgiving Day Visit: A special delivery on Thanksgiving.
• Holiday Gift Bags: Delivered on the 3rd Saturday in December.

Wellness checks are performed on every delivery day. If a volunteer can't reach you at the door, the office contacts your emergency contact and, if needed, the police.

Ways to Give

Meals On Wheels of Tampa is 100% community funded and does not receive government money. Eighty-four cents of every dollar donated goes directly to programming.

You can donate in several ways:

• Online at mowtampa.org/donate
• By check mailed to Meals On Wheels of Tampa, 5320 North Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33603
• By phone at (813) 238-8410
• Through an employer matching program

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, a car, proof of auto insurance, and agree to a background check. Those under 18 may ride along with an adult.

To get started, fill out a Volunteer Application at mowtampa.volunteerhub.com and attend a Volunteer Orientation. Orientations are held twice a week: in person on Wednesdays at the 5320 North Boulevard location and virtually on Fridays. There's no minimum time commitment, though delivering at least one day every other week is encouraged.

Group volunteer opportunities are also available through the Adopt-A-Route program. Weekend volunteer opportunities take place on the 3rd Saturday of most months.