Meals on Wheels Launches Eastside Campaign

New hub to expand services for older adults

Outside Rendering 82^nd (Photo courtesy of Meals on Wheels People)

Meals on Wheels People (MOWP) today announced the public launch of its Together at the Table Capital Campaign to fund the construction of a new Eastside Resource Center in Southeast Portland — an investment aimed at reducing barriers to service, expanding access to critical supports, and strengthening the region’s emergency response capacity. Of the $26.7 million campaign goal, more than 91% has been raised to date.

The 17,000-square-foot facility, located at 4035 SE 82nd Ave. and scheduled for completion later this year, reflects a shift in how the organization responds to growing challenges facing older adults, including rising costs, social isolation, and increased vulnerability during extreme weather events.

“This is about access,” said Suzanne Washington, CEO of Meals on Wheels People. “We’re seeing more older adults navigating isolation, affordability challenges, and barriers to basic services. This center is designed to meet those realities by bringing meals, connection, and essential supports together in one place.”

The Eastside Resource Center will introduce new program elements intended to reach underserved communities and remove obstacles that often prevent older adults from engaging with services. Plans include a fast-casual dining space with culturally diverse menu options and flexible hours, a technology hub offering digital literacy support, and dedicated on-site space for partners providing services such as foot care, transportation coordination, and veteran support.

The facility also strengthens operational flexibility and long-term sustainability. An additional commercial kitchen will provide backup capacity to the organization’s Central Kitchen, while a multi-use event space will support community use and generate revenue to reinvest in services.

The Eastside Resource Center is designed to complement, not replace, the organization’s existing operations. Meals on Wheels People’s Central Kitchen and Westside Resource Center continue to operate in Multnomah Village, together forming a stronger, more flexible network of service across the region. With emergency meal storage in Southwest Portland, Southeast Portland, and Vancouver, the organization maintains a true regional presence, spanning all major bridge crossings and ensuring continuity of care across the metro area.

A central feature of the project is its ability to serve as a resilience hub. Designed to operate during emergencies, the building includes solar power, battery storage, and a backup generator to maintain continuity during outages. It has the capacity to store up to 45,000 frozen meals and 30,000 shelf-stable meals and may serve as a safe place for community members during extreme heat, winter storms, and other disruptions.

Older adults are among those most impacted during emergencies, and demand for support continues to rise across the region. Meals on Wheels People remains one of the few providers nationally without a waitlist for meals — an approach that requires sustained infrastructure and readiness to meet need as it emerges.

“The need doesn’t pause during a heat wave or a storm — and neither can we,” Washington said. “This facility ensures we can continue showing up, without interruption.”

The Together at the Table campaign invites community members, businesses, and partners to support the completion of the Eastside Resource Center and help ensure older adults across the region can access the services they need to remain healthy and independent.