MIFA Meals Program

MIFA began delivering meals to seniors at their homes in 1976 and at congregate sites in 1981. Today, MIFA's Senior Meals program serves homebound seniors and congregate meal sites in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Lauderdale Counties. It is the only service of its kind in the area that requests a voluntary contribution from the client.

Services: Eligibility is based on need, not income, though preference is given to low-income applicants.

The program provides
• 2,300 hot meals to local seniors each weekday; 12 shelf-stable meals per year
• At least 1/3 of the U.S. daily dietary requirement in each meal
• Daily social interaction with volunteers or other seniors
• Assurance and relief to seniors’ caregivers
• Monthly pet food delivery, thanks to support from the Germantown Animal Welfare League

Meals Delivery: MIFA has 82 home-delivered routes, 46 of which are dispatched from MIFA’s headquarters. The remaining routes are served by congregate sites across the service area. Volunteers are responsible for delivering most of the routes (100 volunteers are required daily), while paid drivers assist in delivery.

Funding: Major funders for MIFA Senior Meals are the Aging Commission of the Mid-South and the City of Memphis. In the past two years, the H.W. Durham Foundation has provided major support. Additional funding sources cover a broad spectrum with support from individuals, congregations and other forms of private donations. The Aging Commission also assists in applicant screening, while the Memphis Jewish Federation provides kosher meals where needed. Memphis Housing Authority, senior centers, and churches act as congregate meal sites.

Cost: In FY07, the total Senior Meals budget was $3,227,393. MIFA was required to raise one-third of that amount through contributions from individuals, groups, and businesses.