Neighborhood Meals on Wheels

Rallying a Nation

Adequate nutrition is necessary for health, daily functioning, remaining independent, and can assist in maintaining mental clarity, fighting illness, maintaining energy levels, recuperating and managing chronic health and daily issues. It is our mission to provide every home-bound, elderly and disabled community member with appetizing midday meals, a smile, and an eye on the health and safety of those we proudly serve.

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Who We Help

Our nation’s Senior Population is Growing Exponentially

Leaving More and More Americans at Risk of Hunger and Isolation

118M

Seniors By 2060-More than double the number in 2010

1 in 5

Americans are 60 or older

12,000

More Americans turn 60 every day

9.5 M

Seniors threatened by hunger

5.5 M

Are Food Insecure or Very low Insecure

1 in 4

Seniors Live Alone

Social isolation among older adults is associated with an extra

$6.7 Billion

in Medicare spending each year.

Our History

Neighborhood Meals on Wheels was first started when Ginny Douglass, an active member of Norcross First United Methodist Church (now Norcross First Global Methodist Church), founded the program in the spring of 1979. She was determined to attend to the pressing needs of senior adults in her community. Ginny’s vision has evolved into a long lasting and thriving ministry.

Since the beginning of the program, Neighborhood Meals on Wheels has provided thousands of hot midday meals, five days a week, for over thirty-five years. Neighborhood Meals on Wheels began by delivering to the Norcross and Duluth areas. In 2020, under new leadership our program expanded our delivery areas to include Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake, Suwannee, Sugar Hill and Buford. It was shortly there after we changed our name from Norcross Meals on Wheels to Neighborhood Meals on Wheels.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: To support Gwinnett seniors and at-risk individuals in living and aging in place by providing freshly prepared and graciously delivered meals

Vision: A Gwinnett County in which all seniors and at-risk individuals live nourished lives with support and dignity.

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Our Values

Quality

We provide safe, healthy and delicious food that seniors enjoy that is prepared fresh daily.

Service

We provide gracious, reliable customer service to our clients, volunteers, donors, and each other with passion and excellence.

Community

We value our relationships with our clients, volunteers, board members, donors, sponsors, and the community partners who support and work with us.

Integrity

We are transparent in full disclosure of our operations, leadership and stewardship.

Creativity

We actively seek new ideas and trends to work effectively and efficiently.

Growth

We want to expand rapidly in a manner that is sustainable and guarantees reliable, excellent service.

Our Team

Jenny Allen | Executive Director

“Gwinnett County is home to approximately 100,000 senior adults, a significant number of whom, around 40%, are living at or below the poverty level. This demographic represents not only a considerable segment of our community but also an urgent call to action for us to extend our services and care to those in need. Additionally, there exists a crucial opportunity to support individuals who aspire to age in place, particularly when their family members may not be physically present to assist them.
To address these needs, we provide our clients with a nutritious, freshly prepared meal delivered to their homes each weekday—a small yet impactful gesture laden with kindness, grace, and compassion that underscores our commitment to their well-being. Our operation is bolstered by a dedicated team of 300 volunteers who play a vital role in ensuring that our clients receive the highest level of service. Their commitment and generosity of spirit are truly remarkable, and I firmly believe we are fortunate to have the finest volunteers in the entire state of Georgia, who embody the essence of community support and compassion in action.”

Jenny Allen, Executive Director of Neighborhood Meals on Wheels, is always happy to connect. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, she’d love to hear from you!

Call Jenny

+1 (770) 881-2134

Our board Members

Our board members are the guiding force behind Meals on Wheels leading with vision, wisdom, and a heart for service. Their dedication helps us grow, serve, and impact lives every day.

With a Masters of Management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, Elizabeth retired as Hasbro VP-Marketing for the Girls and Boys Toy Division to focus on raising her 4 children. She has also served in various civic and community roles. Currently, she serves as chairwoman of the Neighborhood Meals on Wheels board where her focus is on launching their new board, infrastructure building, fundraising, and strategic planning. Prior to that, Elizabeth served as the chairwoman of the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries board. From 2020-2023, she oversaw the launch of NCM’s new board, supervised the purchase and fundraising for a new building and the implementation of significant infrastructure upgrades and new client services. Other community involvement: Norcross HS Foundation for Excellence Board Co-President, Norcross and Pinckneyville School Council Rep., Simpsonwood UMC Administrative Council President, Stewardship Chairperson and Staff-Parish Relations Chairperson. Elizabeth has also served as a NMOW delivery volunteer for many years.

Chuck has dedicated his working life to instigating better strategies to serve people in need every day. He currently serves as Lead Pastor of Sugar Hill Church which is a dynamic, multi-cultural, non-denominational church in northeast Atlanta with 5,000 plus members and multiple community-centric ministries. Additionally, he serves as Co-Founder and Chief Strategist for ClearPath Counseling Network. With more than 200 licensed therapists, ClearPath makes mental and emotional healthcare accessible and affordable. Serving hundreds of clients with personalized care and financial strategies, ClearPath is making a difference in hundreds of clients’ lives. In addition to serving as Neighborhood Meals on Wheels’ Chief Development Officer, he is also a member of the Superintendent’s Business Leaders Council for
GCPS and a member of the Gwinnett Chamber Chairman’s Club. He also serves as Chaplain for the Gwinnett County Police Department and United States Customs and Border Patrol.

Bill has over 25 years of leadership experience in consulting, accounting, and business development, including his most recent role as a Partner at Wipfli, a National Accounting, Tax, and Advisory firm. As a CPA, he brings accounting expertise to help Neighborhood Meals on Wheels expand its reach and impact. Bill earned a BBA in Finance from The University of Georgia and an MBA from Georgia State University. Bill has called the Peachtree Corners/Norcross area home. He and his wife Sherri raised their two daughters in Peachtree Corners and live in downtown Norcross. His previous community involvement includes roles with the United Way of Greater Atlanta, Volunteer Gwinnett, and Simpsonwood United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Council as Council and Strategic Planning Chair.

Jennifer is a Georgia Tech graduate with over 25 years of experience in Marketing and Sales. She began her 20-year career with Swift Denim as a process engineer and became the Director of Marketing and Merchandising in 2003. In 2014, she transitioned to real estate, becoming a top-producing Realtor® in Georgia and South Carolina. Jennifer is passionate about ministering to seniors and has been an active member of the Visiting Care Team at Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church, visiting with and sharing the word of God with homebound members. Since 2021, she has volunteered with Neighborhood Meals on Wheels and brings first-hand knowledge of the NMOW volunteer role and expectations. Her past community involvement includes roles with Gwinnett Giving Girls, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Norcross High School Council (Chairman), PTSA Board and the Georgia Tech Alumni Club of Columbus (Vice -President, Treasurer). Jennifer lives in Peachtree Corners with her husband Russell, where they raised their three children, now young adults, and is an active member of Saint Brigid Catholic Church.

Dr. Audrey Arona graduated University of Calif., San Diego, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cell Biology/Biochemistry and thereafter graduated from the Univ. of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1991 with a medical degree. She completed an OB/Gyn Residency at the University of Southern California in 1995, and is a Fellow and Board certified through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Arona also has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration through Valdosta State University. Dr. Arona began private practice in 1995 in San Jose, California, and later moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia where she owned an OB/GYN private practice for 20 years. She served as a consultant to the GNR Health Department in 2012,
became their Medical Director in 2018, and in 2019 became their CEO/District Health Director, leading the most populous public health district in Georgia through the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Arona now holds a faculty position with the Philadelphia College of Medicine, Suwanee, GA campus.

Judge Norman Cuadra, a 1989 University of Florida graduate, earned his Florida Department of Law Enforcement certificate and worked as a Felony Probation Officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. In 1995, he graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and joined the Georgia Bar. He became a judge in 2005 for the City of Doraville Municipal Court and was appointed Chief Judge for the City of Suwanee in 2014. Currently, he is the managing member of Cuadra & Patel, LLC, practicing criminal law, family law, personal injury law, and criminal/immigration matters. Judge Cuadra has litigated at all court levels in Georgia, including oral arguments before the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. He is also active in his community serving in a variety of legal capacities. Presently, he serves on the Pastor’s Council at Sugar Hill Church and has served on the Personnel Committee, Deacon and SHC representative board member for the North Gwinnett Cooperative.

Having lived in Gwinnett County for about 20 years, Luis is a local entrepreneur. He had a short stint as an artist in the Latin Music Industry until he met his wife and started a family. Graduating from Florida International with a B.S. in Business & Hospitality, he pivoted to the food and beverage industry and moved to Georgia while opening new stores for Rare Hospitality Group. He is the founder and CEO of several local restaurants, including The Crossing Steakhouse in Historic Downtown Norcross, Mojito’s Cuban-American Bistro, Mojitos Bistro at The Forum, and Mojitos Marietta in Cobb County. Luis served as the first president of the Historic Norcross Business association, and brings 25 years of hospitality and commercial foodservice experience. He has also served on the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries Board since 2023.

Barry has over 30 years of leadership experience in operations and technology, including his most recent role as Chief Operating Officer of a Gwinnett-based mobility services company. He has a passion for leading teams to drive change and help organizations scale and grow. Barry earned a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from Georgia State University. He currently provides fractional COO consulting to metro-Atlanta companies. Barry and his wife have lived in Peachtree Corners for more than 25 years, where they raised their two daughters. His volunteer work includes service at Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries in Gwinnett County.

Rusty has been in leadership in the Automotive Industry for more than 30 years. He is currently the Director of Fixed Operations at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet in Duluth which is part of Hendrick Automotive Group. He proudly served on the Dealer Fixed Operations Advisory Board for General Motors for more than 10 years. He is a proud member of Sugar Hill Church and also currently serves on the Pastor’s Council and has previously served as Chairman of Deacons. He firmly believes in Servant Leadership and placing the needs of others ahead of his own. His wife of 32 years, Dina Thigpen, has been a volunteer of NMOW for many years.

Join Us.

If you are in need of assistance, we’d love to help! If you interested in joining us in the journey to provide seniors with nutritious, appetizing meals, let us know.

Get Involved

Frequently Asked Questions

Each satisfying meal includes. a hot entree, cold salad, fruit or dessert, plus milk or juice. Meals are registered Dietitian approved and provide recommended daily allowances of nutrients. Regular, sodium-free, and diabetic diets are available.

Meals cost $7 per day. Food delivery is provided for free, along with a smile by one of our wonderful volunteers.

Our service area currently includes Berkley Lake, Duluth Area of Gwinnett County, Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Buford, Suwanee, and Sugar Hill.

Apply online or print and mail the application to the address on the form.

Apply Now

Any house-bound, elderly or disabled resident in the service area is welcome to apply. You can apply by yourself using the online or print application, or be referred by medical, clergy or any concerned citizen.