Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County, Inc. delivered its first meal during 1975 from the kitchen of Riverview Hospital to a small number of homebound individuals in Carmel, Noblesville and Fishers. Today, more than 450 volunteers deliver nearly 200 meals daily. Based on this nonprofit's statistics, approximately 21,000 residents in Hamilton County face food insecurity, and many more face barriers accessing consistent, nutritious meals.
The Meals on Wheels home food delivery service is available to anyone who is physically or mentally unable to prepare meals for themselves regardless of age or income. Recipients may request assistance themselves or be referred by their physician, a family member, church pastor or hospital discharge personnel.
Beth Gehlhausen, executive director for this local Meals On Wheels organization, says the staff contacts a recipient’s primary physician to obtain a dietary prescription. A dietary prescription is required for each recipient receiving meals to ensure that dietary restrictions are honored, and dietary requirements are met.
Gehlhausen assures that meals are prepared in state-approved health care facilities under the direct supervision of registered dietitians. She says special dietary requirements for individuals can be accommodated, such as a diabetic, heart healthy, low-fat/low-cholesterol or renal diets for dialysis patients.
Menus are designed by the nutrition services staff at state-approved health care facilities and may rotate on a weekly or monthly basis. Accommodations for dietary restrictions are made during meal preparation. However, due to the volume of meals prepared at the facilities, Gehlhausen says they aren't able to personalize a recipient's meals based purely on likes and dislikes.
Meal delivery schedules can be customized to meet the needs of recipients with a maximum of five days and a minimum of two days per week. Recipients may select the days.
When starting meal service, Gehlhausen says they require a two-week minimum and a two-week advance payment (non-refundable). "We don’t feel anyone can make an informed judgment about the program after only receiving a couple of meals."
This group receives and appreciates communitywide support, especially given that it's not a government-funded program. In fact, the second annual Al Haimbach Memorial Golf Classic special event held June 9, 2025, at the Chatham Hills Country Club in Westfield raised $83,000. The funds supported the organization’s mission of delivering medically tailored meals to the elderly or those with disabilities, facing food insecurities or unable to prepare food for themselves, for both short- and long-term needs in Hamilton County.
The Meals on Wheels team reminds that food insecurity doesn’t always look like empty cupboards; it often shows up as skipped meals, limited nutrition or tough choices between groceries, rent and medication.
Additionally, the group's signature fundraiser, Dancing with Our Stars, raised more than $166,000 in 2025. Their 12th annual Dancing with Our Stars event is slated for Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.
However, Gehlhausen states the day-to-day success of Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County depends on the compassionate hearts of volunteers and the willingness to share time and resources from community-service-minded individuals.
Applications for this group's services can be completed online at MealsOnWheelshc.org.