Meal Program

Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels is an independent, private, nonprofit organization serving over 120,000 meals to elderly and disabled persons residing in the Town of Tonawanda or the Village of Kenmore. We are the only organization providing this service in these communities. We are funded primarily from client payments and through private donations. We are a volunteer – based community service and are NOT affiliated with any other area Meals on Wheels program.

Eligibility for Service

Services are provided to elderly and/or disabled persons who reside in the Town of Tonawanda or the Village of Kenmore and are unable to shop regularly and prepare healthy meals for themselves.

Case Management Service

Each client must complete a telephone interview with our social worker prior to start of service. Additionally, a home visit may be scheduled to assess needs, provide information and referral services. Our social worker is always available to answer questions, share resource information and offer support. If a client is not home to receive a meal or a volunteer observes an area of concern, our staff will follow up with the participant and/or emergency contact.

Meals

Meals do not contain added salt or seasoning and low sodium products are used, including cold cuts. Our diabetic diet is actually a modified carbohydrate diet. A dietician has reviewed the menu and if adjustments are required to maintain the proper carb level then we make a substitution. Our renal diet follows the same procedure. The menu is reviewed and all substitutions needed to maintain a basic renal diet are made. Diabetic and Renal menus follow industry standards for revisions. It is still up to the individual client to be aware of their diet needs and make adjustments to the meal sent out. If your diet needs to be more restrictive then it is your responsibility to not eat the part of the meal that is concerning. Highly restrictive diets and changes according to preferences cannot be accommodated. A frozen nutritional supplement is available at a nominal cost upon request. Menus are distributed at the beginning of each month. Please note that occasionally substitutions are made based on availability of an item.

Meal Service

Meals are prepared on site each day and are planned to provide you with a balanced, nutritious diet. The two meals combined provide 2/3 of the days’ major nutrients. The hot meal is packaged in a microwaveable tray and consists of meat/protein, vegetable and side item. The cold meal offers a lighter meal for dinner and consists of a salad, sandwich, or wrap with fruit. Meals are served with a bag containing milk and juice (if a cold meal is received), bread, and a dessert or cold side dish. If you cannot drink milk, juice may be requested.

Meals are delivered Monday – Friday between 11:15 a.m.. and 12:45 p.m.. The cost per meal is $5.50 for the hot meal and $2.75 for a cold meal. Breakfast if also available for $1.25 . Clients may select the days and type of meals within the following limits:

  • If only a hot meal is desired, a minimum of 4 days per week is required.
  • If a hot and cold meal is desired, a minimum of 3 days per week is required.
  • There is no option to receive only a cold meal.
  • If weekend meals are needed, frozen meals are available to be delivered on Friday.

Meal Delivery

Meals are delivered by a team of volunteers who use their own personal vehicles and give their time as a service to you and our community. You will find that they are very friendly and caring. Our volunteers will briefly check in with each participant as a courtesy service. Please remember that they have many clients to visit and they need to deliver meals in a timely manner to ensure a safe temperature is maintained.

Meal Cancellations/ Service Changes

If you need to cancel meal delivery for a day or an extended period of time, just call the office at 874-3595.

We need to know your name (first and last), the day and date you want to cancel. If you are cancelling for an extended time, let us know the first day to cancel and the date to start service again. If you don’t know when you wish to resume, simply say Cancel Until Further Notice.Please speak clearly and leave a phone number where you may be contacted if needed.

Cancelations will be accepted until 8:00 a.m. on the day to be canceled. If you forget to call or call after this deadline, you will be charged for the meal because the kitchen staff needs a final count and begin meal preparation at 8:00 a.m.

Please do not give cancelations to volunteers; you must call the office directly to ensure the information is received

NYS Health Department Regulations forbid us from leaving a meal unattended such as in a cooler, on a porch, in a box, etc. Alternative delivery arrangements must be approved in advance with the office. Once the participant or responsible party has accepted a meal, we are no longer responsible for the food handling or safe storage.

Holidays

Meals are not delivered on the following holidays as our building is closed:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • President’s Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • July 4th
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veteran’s Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Inclement Weather

While we make every effort to deliver meals as scheduled, occasionally the weather proves unsafe and delivery must be canceled. Such cancelations will be announced on the major television and radio stations. Look and listen for Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels. We also use a call service and all clients and volunteers will get a phone call early in the morning when we have to cancel service.

Billing / Payment

Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels requires a one week commitment due to administrative costs to arrange services. Participants who cancel service within the first week will be billed for a minimum of $20.00.

Returned check fee is $25.00. Participants who are in arrears for more than two months are subject to cancelation of service unless arrangements are made by calling the office at 874-3595.

Suggestions / Comments

We desire to provide the best service possible and your suggestion is always welcome. Please feel free to call the Executive Director or any staff member any time with your comments and questions at 716-874-3595 or send an email to a contact listed below.

Caregiver Resource

https://www.caring.com/caregivers/crisis-guide-for-alzheimers-dementia-caregivers/

“Caring for a loved one with dementia presents numerous challenges for families and caregivers. Having dementia puts older adults at risk of wandering, increased aggression, hallucinations, and depression.

This new resource explains the most common crises that arise and offers caregivers strategies to cope with or prevent them if a situation occurs.


Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels is an independent non-profit agency funded by client payments, contributions from the community, the Town of Tonawanda and funds from the New York State Office for the Aging and Erie County Department of Senior Services.

Director:
Jessica Nowak
Jessica@ktmeals.org

Assistant Director
Dan Wiles
Dan@ktmeals.org

Social Worker:
Karen Hacherl
karen@ktmeals.org

Volunteer Coordinator:
Jennifer Jetter
Jennifer@ktmeals.org

Kitchen Manager:
Stephanie Hurley
stephanie@ktmeals.org

Billing Questions:
Rebecca Shearer
becky@ktmeals.org