WesleyLife is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Meals on Wheels program, which has delivered over 4 million meals to older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities in central Iowa.

Investing in Local Ingredients and Culinary Talent

The organization has announced a series of culinary initiatives, including partnerships with local food suppliers, the addition of two acclaimed chefs, and a new dining management company to oversee meal preparation.

Among the biggest changes is a partnership with Guthrie County Quality Meats, which will supply all of the beef and pork and most of the chicken served through WesleyLife’s communities for healthy living and Meals on Wheels program.

WesleyLife has also added executive chef James Richards and culinary director Chris Hollinger to lead the effort, with the goal of replacing premade foods with scratch-made meals using fresh ingredients and locally sourced proteins.

Krista Adams, WesleyLife’s director of culinary excellence, said the organization’s goal is to provide meals that offer both nutrition and quality. “For our organization, food is far more than nutrition,” Adams said. “It’s comfort. It’s connection. It’s celebration. It’s an essential part of health and well-being.”

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.