Programs and Partnerships

Calgary Meals on Wheels primarily operates inside our 3 program pillars - Home Delivery, Schools, and Community.

 

Referral Partnerships

  • Launched in partnership with Alberta Health Services in 2019, the Going Home Program provides short-term meal support to older adults returning home from hospital stays who have limited or no natural supports. This program is designed to support recovery, reduce stress during transition, and promote safe nutrition access during a critical period following discharge.

    Meals are delivered directly to clients’ homes, allowing individuals to focus on healing while maintaining independence in a familiar environment. Each year, the program supports more than 700 older adults and plays a preventative role in reducing hospital readmissions by addressing immediate nutritional needs. The Going Home Program is accessed through healthcare referral and is widely used by discharge planners and clinical teams across Calgary.

  • Introduced in 2024, the In Place Program is delivered in partnership with the In Place Social Prescribing Network to provide short-term meal support for older adults living independently in the community. Clients are referred by healthcare professionals and supported by social workers within the Network.

    The program addresses immediate nutritional needs while clients and social workers work together to identify and establish longer-term, sustainable food security solutions. By stabilizing access to nutritious meals during periods of transition or vulnerability, the In Place Program supports health, independence, and continuity of care within the community.

  • The Nourish and Connect Program, launched in 2025, is a referral-based partnership with Calgary Seniors Resource Society. Through this program, isolated older adults are connected to short-term meal support while additional social and community-based supports are put in place.

    Referrals are made through Calgary Seniors’ SeniorConnect team, allowing clients to receive nutritious meals during periods of increased vulnerability. The program is designed to reduce immediate food insecurity while supporting broader goals of connection, stability, and long-term well-being.

  • Bridges to Stability is a partnership with Calgary Housing that began in late 2025 to support residents experiencing urgent food insecurity. Through this program, eligible residents receive one month of meal support, with additional longer-term subsidized meals available for those who qualify.

    In addition to home-delivered meals, the program includes community meals paired with financial literacy workshops, delivered in partnership with Momentum. These gatherings are designed to reduce isolation, strengthen community connection, and support residents in building greater long-term stability. Bridges to Stability reflects a collaborative, place-based approach to food security that integrates nutrition, education, and community well-being.

Home Delivery

Our Chef’s Daily Special

Established in 1965, Our Chef’s Daily Special is Calgary Meals on Wheels’ core daily meal delivery program, designed to support individuals and couples who need reliable access to nutritious, affordable meals at home. This program is commonly used by caregivers and clients with fixed incomes, health challenges, or reduced ability to shop or cook independently.

Meals follow a 3-week rotating, non-selective menu developed by our culinary and nutrition professionals and can accommodate a range of dietary restrictions. Clients may receive meals three to seven days per week, with deliveries taking place Monday through Friday. Pricing is determined using an income-based sliding scale, ensuring meals remain accessible while supporting long-term food security. There is no waitlist, and delivery is included for free as part of the service.

My Choice Menu

Our My Choice Menu offers flexible meal support through a selection of more than 75 frozen, a-la-carte meals prepared by Calgary Meals on Wheels. This program is well suited for individuals, couples, families, or caregivers seeking convenient meal options that can be ordered as needed, without committing to a daily delivery schedule.

Meals are prepared with the same focus on nutrition, quality, and dietary accommodation as our daily programs, including options for common dietary needs. Meals are available at a set, affordable price and can be stored for future use, making this program especially helpful for caregivers managing fluctuating schedules or clients transitioning between levels of support. Orders are placed through our online store, with weekday delivery available throughout Calgary.

Schools

Hot Soup Program

Since 2000, in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education, twice a week Calgary Meals on Wheels delivers a nutritious hot soup lunch to elementary schools with vulnerable students at no cost to the students or the schools. Many of the children participating in the Hot Soup Program  face difficult personal life situations, poor nourishment, and family stresses. The Hot Soup Program ensures children will have a nutritious lunch, giving them the energy required to concentrate and learn.  As this program is 100% funded by community support, we are continually seeking funding to support the maintenance and growth of this program and to enable these children to better learn and reach their full potential. 

Student Nutrition Program

Established in 2014, the Student Nutrition Program was put into place for schools that have been identified with a high population of nutritionally vulnerable students without the resources or facility to produce meals. Funded by the Government of Alberta via the school districts, this program allows schools to purchase 100+ items from our menu to have on site for students as needed. Full bellies reduce students’ stress and anxiety and improves focus of learning, health and well-being.

Community

Regional Program

Established in 2013, our Regional Program is ideal for rural or small towns orbiting the greater Calgary area who do not have their own Meals on Wheels, or want to supplement the meals that are currently available locally. Currently, we are partnered with FCSS in Cochrane, Strathmore, Wheatland County, as well as Longview Seniors and the Chestermere Food Bank.

Agency Program

Ideal for organizations without resources or the facilities to produce meals for their clients but wish to incorporate meals into their programs, our agency program empowers agencies to focus on their core services. This program was established in 1996 and we are currently working with 6 Alpha House locations.

More than a Meal Partnerships

Calgary Meals on Wheels is proud to work with a variety of community organizations, to assist us in providing meaningful connections to our clients.

Calgary Police Service 
As one of the partner agencies involved with the Integrated School Support Project, we provide approximately 250 breakfasts and more than 425 lunches each week to two elementary schools. 

Seniors Secret Service 
All year round we have the great joy of delivering birthday gifts to our regular senior clients. Each Holiday season we are able to offer hundreds of our senior clients festive holiday gifts to spread cheer and warmth, all thanks to this wonderful partnership. 

Calgary Fire Department 
Each year the Calgary Fire Department offers smoke detector inspections and replacements for our clients, helping to keep them safe in their homes. 

Florist Supply 
Each week beautiful bouquets of older, unsaleable flowers are donated for us to share with our regular home delivery clients. 

Quilting Guilds 
Various quilting guids around the city regularly provide us with beautiful handmade placemats that we gladly distribute to our clients to help brighten their homes.  

Letters Against Isolation 
This partnership provides us with handwritten letters that we can share with seniors and homebound clients to offer comfort and community connection. 

Schools  
The youth of Calgary help us spread community connection by way of thousands of colourful handmade greeting cards made by elementary students all school-year long.