Prescott Meals on Wheels is a profound movement of neighbors feeding neighbors
By Jeff Lorig
Like many living in the Prescott area, I’m not from around here. I’m still new to the region and still getting to know my neighbors. When I was a kid, I knew all of them. It seems harder now. Maybe it’s our fast-paced lives or our phones that keep us a little more isolated than before.
I began working at Prescott Meals on Wheels in 2022, and part of my onboarding included a ride-along on one of our many routes, where drivers deliver hot, fresh meals to homebound neighbors who can no longer cook for themselves. On that first route, I watched the driver do far more than deliver meals. He genuinely engaged with each person, asking how they were doing, catching up on family news, and listening with care.
It struck me then: Prescott Meals on Wheels is a simple, yet profound movement of neighbors feeding neighbors. It’s as old as the Bible, and it still works today.
Since that first ride-along, I’ve learned a lot about my neighbors and the neighborhoods of Prescott and Prescott Valley. The people we serve are unable to cook or grocery shop on their own. Many live alone and have no family nearby. For some, their Meals on Wheels driver provides their only face-to-face contact each day. The average age of those we serve is 78, though a few are younger than 60. Most long to remain in their homes and maintain their independence. Some simply can not afford residential care.
It’s easy to forget, but our neighbors weren’t always homebound. They were teachers, nurses, artists, business owners, ministers, veterans, and homemakers – people with full lives, wisdom, and stories worth hearing.
These are my neighbors. And I’m grateful to serve them and to be part of an organization that has been caring for them for more than 53 years.
Since moving to Arizona, I’ve also learned about the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, a simple yet impactful way to partner in this mission of neighbors feeding neighbors. By donating to qualifying charities like Prescott Meals on Wheels, Arizonans can receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state taxes, keeping those funds right here in our community. It’s a remarkable opportunity that many states don’t offer, allowing residents to direct their tax dollars to meaningful local causes. It’s one more way we can all take part in caring for the neighbors who make this place home.
Jeff Lorig has been working for Prescott Meals on Wheels since 2022. Originally from Nebraska, he currently serves as the Director of Client Services.