I recently started volunteering here as a driver to deliver meals to the people in need. A lot of them are home bound without the ability to acquire food, or even if they're under the care of family, the meals provide some sort of time and monetary relief for everyone. Also, seniors can grab a meal at the cafeteria for free! The organization is amazing. The employees seem happy and they care a lot about the community and the volunteers too. It seems to be well-run with sufficient resources, although they always need more drivers so they can reach out to more people. Their meals on wheels program is for the whole island of O'ahu, and my route is focused on Waipahu. They have some baked goods and cookies for sale at supermarkets, at least at Don Quijote Waipahu. Their chocolate nut crispy cookies are really delicious! I can't say anything about the taste of the meals; but from what I saw, the meals seem balanced as they come with a frozen entree, milk, banana, orange, fruit cups, bread, etc. Some meals can accommodate special dietary needs like chopped, no pasta, etc. I wish everyone can afford food and have the capability to get food themselves, but unfortunately this is not the reality and am glad there's an organization who helps people become more independent and also provides some relief to the caregivers. Besides serving meals, they also hire people with disabilities. Sometimes we just need a helping hand to get things started. Blessings to everyone! read more

Lanakila Meals On Wheels - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I had the great privilege and opportunity to learn what this great facility was all about. The short story is they are a facility that offers a place for seniors to congregate for social interaction. In addition, they prepare meals for the many seniors who are incapable of preparing meals for themselves. The meals are packed, seemed to provide food for a few days and has everything, including the daily diet of milk. They have the delivery bags iced to keep the meals heathly while enroute. Each bag holds meals for 3 individuals and the bags are sorted and marked by area, ready for the volunteer deliver folks. The highlight was I had the opportunity to be a volunteer delivery person. While providing meals is the main thrust of the project, I've learned many of the seniors do not have people, family or friends to interact with on a daily basis. They look forward to the person bringing the meals, providing opportunity for human interaction. The coordinator of Lanakila was absolutely correct in her statement referring to the importance of our volunteer efforts. I walk away from my volunteer efforts a better person knowing I've help to pride food for the soul and companionship however brief for the mind! If you are reading this review and have the the time to volunteer, this is your cause. My last thought ends with thanking the Honolulu Yelp folks who are this effort possible read more

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Give back to the community! The most gratifying work you can do is volunteer. My niece, nephew and I have been a volunteer doing meal delivery for Lanikila Meals on Wheels. They have a sense of pride being a volunteer and the lesson of giving back to the community. They have taken on the responsibility very well! Did you know that Lanikila Meals on Wheels is the largest and only island-wide delivery program in Hawaii for senioon Oahu. The non profit does a tremendous job in preparing and delivering food to our kupuna. The staff is extremely dedicated and work tirelessly. Please consider volunteering because your help will make an impact and difference to our kupuna and community. If you are interested in volunteering please go to the website - lanikilapacific.org. Click on VOLUNTEER and click on the VOLUNTEER APPLICATION. You can complete the application online. read more

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Your meals are the most disgusting, unappetizing things I have ever seen. Tasteless and lousy best describe every single meal.

This is my first time to volunteer for this organization, and I have to say that I'm very impressed. The staff is not only professional but also friendly, and knowledgeable. The entire Thanksgiving operation went smoothly. In the kitchen the volunteers were lined up to prepare and wrap the food plates as efficiently as possible. The volunteers who drove the food to their destination were given designated scheduled times to drive-up the loading zone to make sure the whole pick-up operation as streamlined as possible. I took a bunch of pictures. You can see the volunteers in action. View them on my site: www.augustodecastro.com. Just click on the Lanakila Meals on Wheels link. To learn more about this non-profit organization, go to their website: www.lanakilapacific.org read more

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Tonight I was able to taste a Meals on Wheels dinner. It came frozen, an over night defrost in the refrig, and a 3 minute micro. Everything was bland which I expected. Added a little salt and the dinner became a 3/5 stars. Not bad. I'm reviewing it for all the elderly and needy families on the list. Also may ask them to send meals to my Mom when I'm out of town. She no longer drives. I got about 8 different dinners and will review them all! read more

Lanakila Meals On Wheels - MOW Baked Chicken Dinner. For the younger, just add salt. 3/5 not bad at all. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Sometimes you have to put yourself in another person's shoes. Imagine yourself to be an 85 year old man/woman. Your spouse passed away; you live alone; and you own your home. You are cash poor and live on a fixed income of about a $1000 a month. You have children; but they live on the mainland or the ones that live here, seldom visit you. Most of your sibling and friends have died or are disabled. You cannot get a drivers license and you do not own a car. You are partially immobile so you don't get out of your house that often. You are trapped in your home and live a secluded life because there is no one you can depend on to take you to Longs or Safeway or shopping for clothes, food and other necessities of life. You may find this difficult to believe but nearly 1 in 3 residents of Hawaii over the age of 60 has a difficult time making ends meet and have an annual income that is below $10,000 a year. By the year 2020, one out of every four "people" in Hawaii will be 60 years and older. The fact of the matter is that that 85 year old may be your mother, father, aunty or uncle in a few years. From a statistical point of view, one of three of you that read this review, will be that 85 year old in the future. So is the story told by the Lanakila Pacific Volunteer Coordinator, Randi Jeung as all of us volunteers listened during our break from painting the inside of the Lanakila Meals on Wheels facility on Bachelot Street. Will L. organized this particular painting project and Justin U. and I from Yelp were two of the volunteers. Randi Jeung explained that Lanakila Pacific is a family of programs and services whose goals are to build independence and create a feeling of belonging to the community for it clients, who are the less fortunate people with disabilities. Lanakila Meals on Wheels is one of the programs of Lanakila Pacific. It is a volunteer driven, home delivery service that provides meals to seniors who are 60 years of age and older; and confined to their home. Lanakila Meals on Wheels started as a lunch wagon that served the needy at A'ala Park in 1971. Meals on Wheels fills a need for seniors with a limited budget. It provided low cost, nutritious meals; which helps seniors avoid costly institutionalization. Meals on Wheels is the difference of paying $38.00 a week of home delivered meals or $470 for a week for a senior day care service that provides meals. The program operates on income that are "donations". Seniors in the program make "donations" when they receive their meal. The suggested donation for a meal is $4.00; which can be in the form of cash, food stamps or checks. Even if a "donation" is less than the suggested amount, the service provided by Meals on Wheels is not affected. No senior in the program is denied a meal. Over 250,000 meals are served each year on over 90 different routes all over Oahu. As I was painting the walls of the Meals on Wheels facility I started thinking about my mother, my aunties, my uncles and even about me. I think it is in the best interest of all of us to make sure Lanakila Pacific and it Meals on Wheels program continue to exist because the fact of the matter is, it serves a great and growing need. Thank you Will L. for organizing this painting project. Thank you Randi Jeung and Lanakila Pacific for serving our seniors and the disabled. I think I will volunteer for more of these projects at Lanakila Pacific. I am the one that wrote this review. I think that from a statistical point of view, there is a good chance I will be the one in three. I have to prepare for the future. Me: "Randi! Ms. Jeung! I know you don't remember me but I was one of the guys that did a great job painting the purple wall. I would appreciate it if you tell the Meals on Wheels people what a great job I did on December 17, 2011. Please put in the good word for me so that Meals on Wheels takes good care of me if they are in my future." P.S. If you are interested in volunteering in any of the Lanakila Pacific programs and services or Meals on Wheels; you can contact Randi Jeung at 356-8532. Maybe if you volunteer; Ms. Jeung can put in the good word for you too! read more

So I'm looking for volunteer work and have no experience I'm willing to try that out but what are the requirements to get in I'll do whatever it takes to succeed god bless and hallelujah thank Jesus amen. read more

If you're looking for a rewarding volunteer experience that doesn't require a lot of your time, I encourage you to check out Lanakila Meals On Wheels. The program brings frozen or hot meals to senior citizens living on a fixed income. Most are homebound and live on their own or with a caregiver. A week's supply of frozen meals are usually delivered once a week, and the hot meals are delivered on a daily basis. The program is well-organized and every morning there are some great volunteers who help pack the meals for delivery. I've been volunteering for about 4 months now on a weekly basis. It's SO EASY! You just pick up the meals and they have a list of the addresses/people to deliver to. Since I've been doing it regularly, I always have the same route with the same people and it's been a joy getting to know them. It takes me about 2 hours to do my route but that's because I like to talk to the clients and one aunty on my route likes to teach me craft activities. LIFE SKILLS! 2 hours a week! To become a volunteer, there's no intense orientation or screening process like they have at hospitals or other volunteer organizations. I know right now they are especially looking for people who live on the west side of Oahu to cover the routes over there; there are a TON of their clients on that side! They are really flexible and are willing to accommodate your schedule if you could even just drop it off on your way home. How to become a volunteer is on their website and the primary contact for Meals on Wheels is Chris Wong. There's also a way for you to be reimbursed for gas on a monthly basis, but I decided not to go through with it. Whether you can spare a few hours to help pack the meals, or to be a driver, this is an amazing organization to be a part of and I'm so glad I found it. :) More about the organization- located behind Kuakini Medical Center, Lanakila Pacific is really great because they are dedicated to self-sufficiency. They build from within and give the very people they're trying to help jobs that help support the organization. Many of their workers in the kitchen, catering service, and printing service come from the actual program. read more

If you ever have the time to volunteer, Meals on Wheels could use your help. With dwindling money to help fund this much needed resource for our kupuna, a lot of them will go hungry. There will be a rally on March 10, 2014 at the State Capital to bring awareness and focus to the needs of our seniors, so that the funding will not be cut. I urge those who can afford to donate, to do so for this wonferful cause and if you have the time, volunteer. If you can commit yourself even once a month, they can use you. There are other positions available than just delivering, so I would contact Chris Wong and ask what they are. I always tell people, if everyone who was able to give 2 hours of their time to volunteer a month, that this place would be a much better world. We would have more resources available to anyone who would need them. Yet, the true reward from this is the relationship you have with those you serve. It's something that can't be bought, but it just brings a peace and a joy to your heart and soul. Instead of focusing on one's self (me, myself, and I mode), it's nice to focus on others. Afterall, one day we'll all be old, shriveled (skin), and gray and possibly,lonely and having someone drop in to say, "hello and how you doing," would be most welcomed. I actually, have a lady on my route who always invites me in for coffee and to chat, that makes everything I do that much better. I always thought I'd do stuff like volunteering later in life, but why wait? Time is a thief and once it is gone, it cannot be replaced. So to live, is to live abundantly and with no regrets. I hope you'll make the decision to help in some way. read more

Meals On Wheels is a wonderful nonprofit organization who does a wonderful job at helping our elderly Ohana! There are many types of volunteer opportunities with this organization, go to their website and read more about the "Meals On Wheels" Program or call them to see how you can help on an upcoming event. read more

What an amazing organization who gives so generously to the community. Their time, resources, food- it truly is a place that is filled with love, caring for others and doing good to help those who are less fortunate, those who are not able to do the things that we take for granted daily. If you're wanting to volunteer- the opportunities are endless at Lanikila. There's food delivery, food prep, shirt screening, cleaning, office help, craft making- need I say more? After hearing of all the remarkable gifts that Lanikila gives to those in need, it opens my eyes to what I can do to help those.....those who can't walk, work, talk, cook, clean. Come help to make a difference in someone's life. Just an hour or two of our time can truly change someone's life. What an amazing opportunity to have. Thank you Lanikila Pacific for all that you do! read more

I wanted to get a group of friends to help out in the community as my birthday celebration. Lanakila Pacific had the most efficient program I've seen for a nonprofit. Karen, Jocelyn, Jennifer, and Kevin were a pleasure to work with and able to accommodate us albeit the short notice. Packing was a riot and a great way to spend quality time with friends. Several from our group that went on deliveries came back with touching stories to share. Thanks for making my birthday meaningful. We'll be coming back to help for sure. read more

Lanakila Meals On Wheels - I wanted to get a group of friends to help out in the community as my birthday celebration. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Want to help end senior hunger? Lanakila Meals on Wheels is the largest meals on wheels provider in Hawaii. They cater to seniors who are ages 60 and better and are homebound. Seniors have the option of receiving either a frozen or hot meal. As a deliverer, you can deliver meals to 6 - 12 seniors in a certain geographic route. Frozen meals are delivered weekly; hot meals daily. I deliver in the Chinatown/Downtown area on Saturday mornings and have been doing it since September 2009. Honestly this has been one of the most gratifying experiences to date. The seniors are so appreciative! Lanakila Meals on Wheels has two locations: in Honolulu on Bachelot Street near Kuakini Hosipital, and in Wahiawa near the Fresh Water Park. Learn more and either sign up to become a volunteer or donate at www.lanakilapacific.org. read more

For $5 and a drink definitely a bargain and ono too!! Great deal for the community. Can't wait to try them again.

It's so much fun to volunteer at Meals On Wheels. Packing up the meals and driving around to drop off meals to the elderly members of the community is not only fun if you're with a few of your friends but also gives you a great feeling as you see the smiling faces of the individuals and/or families who receive the meals. read more

I love this place. While living in Hawaii I started volunteering here and I met the most wonderful people who have become life long friends. This is a wonderful program for the Kūpuna around the island. read more

Lanakila Meals on Wheels is Hawaii's oldest Meals on Wheels program, they've been doing it since 1971. Lanakila Meals on Wheels is also the only Meals on Wheels program that delivers to all districts on Oahu. They are highly organized and have a dedicated contingent of volunteers who are trained to also be sometimes the only human contact homebound elderly have on a daily basis. They are always looking for volunteers, esp around the holidays. What is also great about Lanakila MOWs is that it is part of a larger non-prof - Lanakila Pacific, that creates socially and economically viable social programs to help folks with physical, cognitive, and age-related challenges lead independent lives. Lanakila Pacific has been around for nearly 70 years. They used to be known as Lanakila Rehab who did the Lanakila Crafts, but they're undergone a pretty big transformation with a new mission that includes a synergistic strategy to create a sustainable organization, as well as green initiatives within their programs. They have a huge commercial kitchen that also does catering for corporate and family events, and their menu specializes in the global with a healthy twist -- thank god for brown rice! Their catering service is called Xpress Chefs. Everything from breakfast bentos with omelette and fried rice to watercress tofu salad, kalua turkey, ahi cakes, thai green curry chicken, and sandwiches on baked french bread. read more

I used to live on the north shore, but recently relocated to the north west. Though I just want to bring up on a particular location which is Wahiawa area. And the reason I'm bringing this up is because I had a friend who used to go there p until they changed the site coordinator. And from what I noticed things were going alright then one of the members I think her name is Kathy the lady who comes with her dog, but seems she kind of runs the place and tries to over rule the coordinator her self. And I remember one instance where she supposedly got one coordinator fired because she didn't have her way. Though I've heard this from other members who used to attend the Wahiawa Center, but no longer goes because of the lady Kathy. And then there is I think the manager Lisa who I've found out had something to do with Kathy in riding of that one coordinator. It seems as though the one worker Lisa was waiting for that one promotion to be where she is now which she has more power and used it to rid that one worker with the advise or influence of the lady Kathy. I just think that lady tries to do more than she can, but Lisa allows it to go on. That is so messed up and I think Lanakila should look more into both Kathy the member and Lisa the manager because again one seems to try and run things when the other is not there even when she is only a member while the other kisses up to her when she goes there. read more

thanks everyone for delivering meals to my parents, they are so appreciative of the effort and complement to the drivers, once they waited for my mom to come home since she. was late from a doctor's appointment. read more

Awesome organization doing some awesome things for the community specifically the elderly community. I have volunteered with the Lanakila Pacific Meals on Wheels program a couple of times with different organizations and it's always a good feeling everytime you visit Kupuna and hand them their daily meal for the day whether it's on a weekday or weekend. There are different routes which they give you and basically you get a pack set of meals delivered from various parts of the island. It's a mobile meal banking system which they have established and it's very integral to our elderly community that they receive the meals. I feel bad that there are a lot of Kupuna that are on a waiting list for the Meals program. I know that the organization also does special Meals programs like on Thanksgiving Day and other special occasions. The elderly are very appreciative of the meals that you give. Sometimes they like talk story once in a while when you delivery the meals so that is another benefit on their part to be able to see people in the community that do good and that care. The program itself is heavily driven by volunteers who operate behind the scenes preparing meals and for those who deliver them on a weekly and daily basis. The headquarters is located on Bachelot St. right across from Kuakini Medical Center. Lucky you if you get a route the is closest to the headquarters. Kids and families can be do it and be volunteers too. read more

I encourage everyone to volunteer, at least once, to Lanikila Meals on Wheels. I volunteered as part of a requirement for a class I was taking at UH Manoa, and it was an invaluable experience to deliver meals to seniors. Such a wonderful learning experience for myself, and such a great opportunity to give back to seniors. I would recommend all parents to volunteer and take their children on delivery routes. read more