Meals on Wheels and Baltimore County staff deliver meals at Sherwood site, highlight Older Americans Act funding

Stephanie Archer Smith, executive director and CEO of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, and Hyung Tan, director of the Baltimore County Department of Aging, joined staff and volunteers at the Sherwood distribution site in Cockeysville for a morning of meal deliveries and demonstration.

The visit put a spotlight on the nonprofit’s mission to help older adults remain safe and independent at home by providing nutritious meals, personal contact and related services. "So Meals on Wheels mission is to keep people living safely and independently at home through the provision of, healthy, nutritious meals, personal contact, and related services," Smith said during the stop.

Hyung Tan said Baltimore County is a partner in the work and noted that the program is supported by federal funding under the Older Americans Act. "This partnership is made possible with funding from the Older Americans Act," Tan said, adding that delivering meals alongside staff and volunteers let him see the program's impact firsthand.

At the Sherwood site staff prepared hot, cold and frozen meals and weekend packs for distribution. Smith explained the delivery process begins with a personal handoff and a brief wellness check; staff also record deliveries and client concerns in an app that routes issues to a case management team for follow-up in real time.

Volunteers carried out the route work and greeted clients at the doorstep. During one exchange, a resident responded to a greeting, saying they were "doing pretty good," and staff left the weekend pack after a short check-in. Program leaders emphasized that the visits reduce social isolation and provide essential support in addition to food: "These visits do more than fight hunger. They reduce social isolation, provide support where needed, and sometimes even save lives," Tan said.

The visit concluded with leaders thanking Sherwood and other host sites across Baltimore County for providing space and partnership. Staff and county officials underscored the combined roles of volunteers, nonprofit staff and public funding in sustaining deliveries to homebound older adults.

Leaders did not announce new policy changes or specific funding allocations during the visit; the event was presented as a demonstration of ongoing partnership and operations.