For over half a decade, Meals on Wheels Central Texas has supported seniors and functionally homebound Texans to remain in their homes for as long as possible.

From meal delivery to home repairs, the nonprofit spearheads various efforts to support the greater Austin area.

“Our mission is to help those who are aging or functionally home-bound age in place,” MOWCTX CEO Henry Van de Putte said. “Because that's the most dignified way to live and it's the most economical way to live and it's the most humanitarian way to live.”
CEO Henry Van de Putte began working at MWCTX four years ago, delivering meals on the same route for all four. 'These folks become part of your family,' Van de Putte said. (Courtesy Meals on Wheels Central Texas)
CEO Henry Van de Putte began working at Meals on Wheels Central Texas four years ago, delivering meals on the same route for all four. "These folks become part of your family," Van de Putte said. (Courtesy Meals on Wheels Central Texas)
The big picture

Founded in 1972 as a part of Meals on Wheels America, MOWCTX has grown the number and scope of its services over the past 52 years.

The nonprofit offers various meal and nutritional programs, including:
MWCTX delivers approximately 3,000 meals per day. (Courtesy Meals on Wheels Central Texas)
Meals on Wheels Central Texas delivers approximately 3,000 meals per day. (Courtesy Meals on Wheels Central Texas)
Other services include:Beyond providing nutritional support, MOWCTX provides daily social connection and community.


Assessing the need

A 2024 presentation by the Texas Demographic Center showed that the population 65 and older grew approximately five times faster than the total U.S. population.

“In five years, there will be more people north of 65 than under the age of 15,” Van de Putte said. “We do not have the infrastructure in place and don't have the time to build an entire aging network from scratch.”
MOWCTX services support the elderly population, but a lack of government funding has put pressure on the organization. Over the past three years, there has been a de facto 35% cut in government funding, according to Van de Putte.

Additionally, while the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program does not fund MOWCTX, the temporary pause on SNAP benefits earlier this year put a strain on the nonprofit.


“Ninety percent of the people calling are outside our service guidelines,” Van de Putte said. “They’re folks who are either too young [or] they're not functionally homebound. But that administrative process of a 200% increase in call volume was extremely paralyzing to our organization.”

One result of the recent federal government shutdown, which lasted 43 days, is administrative delays. MOWCTX is partially funded by federal and state reimbursement grants, meaning the organization spends money that is later repaid by the government. Van de Putte said any delays in reimbursements are “really hard to deal with.”

“There's no stat that says these are individuals that gave a lifetime to this community,” Van de Putte said. “And for us to say ‘we got you’ after a lifetime of them getting us is so important.”

Looking ahead


The MOWCTX team is considering something they’ve never done before: allowing people to pay for services. Normally, individuals don’t have to pay to receive a hot meal, groceries or support from the MOWCTX team.

By introducing a fee-for-service model, people who fall outside of service guidelines can benefit from MOWCTX programs and help subsidize them.

“It helps us expand our reach with more scale,” Van de Putte said. “That means the cost of every meal comes down, which means we can serve more people who need it by serving people who can afford it.”
MWCTX offers a variety of programs to eligible Texans, including meal delivery and assistance with chores and light housework. (Courtesy Meals on Wheels Central Texas)
MOWCTX offers a variety of programs to eligible Texans, including meal delivery and assistance with chores and light housework. (Courtesy Meals on Wheels Central Texas)
Lend a hand

Those interested in supporting MOWCTX can do so by:“In order to continue to maintain services, we need more volunteers to come and step up and help us out,” Van de Putte said.


Those interested can reach out to Director of Development Gissell Perez at [email protected] for more information on how to get involved.

Quote of note

“As we enter the holiday season ... a lot of the people we serve have outlived a lot of their family and friends,” Van de Putte said. “And so, please don't forget about those who have no one.”