Home Delivered Meals

Nutritious meals delivered right to a client’s door with a safety check. This program primarily serves those aged 60 or older who are homebound or unable to safely shop or cook nutritious meals for themselves.

How It Works

  • Hot meals are delivered to all clients. We can deliver Monday through Friday. Your delivery frequency will be tailored to your needs. 

  • Additions to the day’s hot meal may include a daily sandwich-based meal and/or frozen meals for reheating on weekends. 

  • Individuals can be enrolled on a temporary basis (for instance, during recovery after a hospital discharge) or longer-term.

    About our Meals

  • Meals are developed by our Registered Dietician according to New York State’s established guidelines for senior nutrition.

  • Each hot meal contains balanced macronutrients, two thirds of the recommended daily calories, and less than two thirds of the daily recommended amount of sodium. 

  • Each meal is comprised of a meat or non-meat entree (client choice), a starch, and two vegetables, plus fruit or dessert.

  • Each month’s menu is developed in advance, and clients are asked to indicate their hot meal choice for each day.

  • See the current Monthly Menu.

Clients must reside in Tompkins County, NY. We primarily serve those aged 60 years and older. Finances are not a criterium for eligibility. Read more about eligibility below.

To inquire about receiving services, call us at 607-266-9553, or email info@foodnet.org to schedule a call.

Safety Checks

Drivers check in with each client at every meal delivery. This provides peace of mind for clients and their loved ones or caregivers, knowing that there is a connection to additional help if needed.

Am I Eligible?

You MAY be eligible if you are:

Age 60 and over, and: 

  • Homebound due to accident, illness, or frailty

  • Lack adequate support of family, friends, or neighbors

  • Any of the following are true:

    • You lack necessary equipment such as a refrigerator or stove

    • You are physically unable to shop or cook for yourself

    • You lack the knowledge and skills to prepare or cook meals

    • It is unsafe for you to prepare and cook meals

Any age spouse of an eligible person, and:

  • When it is in the best interest of the eligible person

Under age 60 and disabled, and:

  • Reside in a non-institutional household with an over-60 person who is eligible to receive home delivered meals

Under age 60, and:

  • Have prior authorization from a participating insurance provider

Final eligibility is determined by our client services staff. Financial status is not a factor.

Understanding Funding and Costs

Foodnet programs are funded by the US Dept of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, New York State Office for the Aging, Tompkins County Office for the Aging, and generous support from foundations, corporations, and individual donors.

No one is turned away due to inability to contribute.

Optional Contributions

Clients who are able without hardship to contribute to our cost of providing meals are invited and welcomed to do so at a level that is meaningful to them. Those able to contribute the full cost are encouraged to do so, but any amount helps. No one will be denied service because of inability to contribute.

Contributions are confidential, and they go back into the program to help expand reach and improve services.

Self-Pay Option

In certain circumstances, there may be a Self-Pay option. If approved, the meal costs are as follows:

  • Hot meal $9.50

  • Supplemental cold sandwich meal $1.80 

  • Two frozen meals for reheating on the weekend $15.60

  • Blizzard Bag $40 (4 shelf-stable meals)

Insurance Coverage

Some individuals may have meal coverage under their insurance company.

Foodnet currently works with the following insurance carriers:

iCircle

Fidelis/Wellcare

Nascentia

Please contact us for assistance.

Foodnet Meals on Wheels is proud to partner with the Tompkins County Office for the Aging (COFA) to provide home-delivered meals, congregate meals, and related nutrition services for older individuals authorized under the Older Americans Act. Foodnet receives funding from COFA and the NYS Office for the Aging to carry out these programs.