Prescott Meals on Wheels began its independent journey in 1973 with a simple mission to ensure that no neighbor would go without a nutritious meal or a caring connection. When Dave Marston became involved in 2003, the program was still operating out of a small building on Aubrey Street. Above the door were the words Golden Age Nutrition. Inside, a tiny but dedicated staff of six poured their hearts into serving older adults in our community.
As the need grew, so did the vision. In 2005, construction began on the new facility on Rosser Street. It was a leap of faith guided by community spirit. The City of Prescott set a requirement for funding support. Meals on Wheels contributed one hundred thousand dollars and the Adult Center contributed two hundred thousand dollars toward the project. With only two hundred fifty thousand dollars in total funds at the time, this decision reflected tremendous courage and belief in a brighter future. By January 2007, meals, hope, and connection began flowing from the new Rosser Street kitchen. Even then, the dream of never having a wait list for service was at the heart of everything.
Funding in those early years came from pancake breakfasts, selling snacks during bingo, and meaningful support from the community. Payments from NACOG were around eighty to ninety thousand dollars per year, and Arizona Tax Credit donations reached fifty to sixty thousand dollars per year. It was modest, but it was enough to keep the mission alive.
The years of 2008 and 2009 brought significant financial hardship. For a time, the future of Congregate Dining was uncertain. Yet, the community stepped up once again. The City of Prescott offered help, and a car raffle brought in about fourteen to fifteen thousand dollars. A turning point came through a generous and unexpected blessing. A caring donor, who wished to remain unknown, left a gift through the Arizona Community Foundation. This endowment now provides more than forty thousand dollars annually, helping sustain the mission for future generations.
More generosity soon followed. When Frank McGuire passed away in 2008, he left one third of his estate to Prescott Meals on Wheels. That gift began a long period of financial strength and growth. It was during this time that board member and Director Emeritus Bob Painter helped lead a focused effort to expand Tax Credit support. That effort has continued to blossom and sustains the mission to this day. Although the same year brought a net operating loss of one hundred thirty five thousand nine hundred thirty six dollars, the commitment to serve remained unwavering.
The mission grew again in 2017 and 2018, when the Prescott Valley Meals on Wheels contract with NACOG ended. Prescott Meals on Wheels stepped forward to ensure that neighbors in Prescott Valley would continue to receive meals, care, and connection. Since then, demand has continued to rise, leading to the current vision to expand the Rosser Street kitchen and facility to meet the rapidly increasing needs of our community.
Through every hardship, every blessing, and every bold leap, one truth has remained constant. Prescott Meals on Wheels thrives because this community cares about its neighbors. This is more than meals. It is compassion delivered to the doorstep. It is human connection. It is dignity. It is hope.
The story of Prescott Meals on Wheels is still being written, and the heart of this mission is stronger than ever.
