MEALS ON WHEELS LAUNCHES VETERAN-FOCUSED CAMPAIGN

Local non-profit organization Meals on Wheels of Long Beach (MOWLB) announced their newest campaign, that focuses on providing home-delivered meals to the city’s military veterans.

The non-profit was first founded in England during World War II (WWII), with the purpose of delivering meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. Meals on Wheels would eventually arrive to the United States, starting in Philadelphia in 1954 and has since spread throughout major cities across the country. In 1971, MOWLB officially opened for business in the Downtown Long Beach Area, where it now serves over 600 clients.

The announcement of the “Save a Veteran (End the Wait)” campaign was made on Friday, June 6, by the organization’s Development Director Walter Mohajer.

According to Mohajer, the development for a meal-delivery campaign focusing on servicing Long Beach’s veterans has been in development by MOWLB since August of last year; and it was created with the intention of ensuring Long Beach’s veterans receive a proper meal, without having to be on a waitlist.

“We’re not just delivering; we’re also about having a strong emphasis on interpersonal connections and relationships with clients,” said Mohajer. “As of now, we have about 40 veterans waiting on our program’s list to just receive the basic things like such as the meal. And through this new campaign, we’re making sure these veterans are getting off the wait list and receiving their home-delivered meals.”

Another aspect to the campaign, according to Mohajer, is highlighting the veterans who have proudly served in the military, as well as ensuring those same veterans receive the proper support, compassion and the resources to live long, healthy, independent lives. One such individual is Thomas Keith “TK” Morgan, a U.S. Navy Veteran who celebrates his 98th birthday this month.

According to an official newsletter from MOWLB, Morgan was born in Coldville, WY, during the time of the Great Depression. Morgan grew up in an era that was wrought with challenges; but despite all the struggles, Morgan’s life was marked by resilience, hard work and a deep commitment to helping others.

At the age of 18, Morgan enlisted in the Navy and proudly served during the events of WWII. Morgan’s brother, Jere Keil, also served in the Navy aboard the USS Raton. After returning home, Morgan found work as a milkman; building strong relationships with his community, as well as holding onto the values that have guided him through his life: family, friendship and a strong sense of tradition.

“Today, we are proud to support TK through our meal delivery program, just as we once served his father,” wrote the MOWLB in the official newsletter. “TK expresses his heartfelt gratitude for the volunteers and staff who bring nutritious meals and friendly faces to his doorstep. Especially in today’s challenging economy, he deeply appreciates ‘the time, care and dedication’ that come with every delivery.”

Another of the veterans that MOWLB wanted to highlight is Stewart Wavell-Smith. Born in England, Wavell-Smith grew up surrounded by music, art and passion. At a young age, he showed he had a talent for the arts.

During his time in England, Wavell-Smith served as a spy for the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), more commonly known as MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), before eventually moving to the United States. In 1963, Wavell-Smith was recruited by the Lennen and Newell Advertising Agency in New York. Two years later, while still on a green card, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as a drill instructor for basic training.

Today, Wavell-Smith spends his time continuing to paint. He also teaches his fellow veterans to paint, offering them a creative outlet for healing and self-expression.

“We believe just as Stewart does: being of service means showing up, especially when life is hardest,” wrote the MOWLB in their newsletter.” Like Stewart’s mother, who sang through air raids to comfort neighbors, we serve with care. Our work is about more than just a meal – it’s about connection, community and carrying on. From generation to generation, we serve to heal, support and uplift.”

Beachcomber asked Walter Mohajer about some of the ways Long Beach citizens can help support MOWLB’s “Save a Veteran” campaign and MOWLB’s cause altogether. According to Mohajer, some of the best ways to help MOWLB include volunteer work, following the non-profit’s social media pages, and, most importantly, simply donating to the program.

“All the efforts, all the time, all the energy that’s invested into the program – this comes from the donations and support that makes it happen,” said Mohajer. “It’s not just about we’re doing, but what we’re able to do through the help of other. They [donators and volunteers] make it possible. We are a vehicle, but their help is what makes it all possible.”

According to MOWLB’s 2024 Impact Report, the non-profit officially served 713 clients across Long Beach, delivered almost 168,000 meals and provided almost 84,000 wellness checks to clients. The non-profit has also delivered 5 million meals to clients since 1971.

MOWLB’s 2024 Impact Report also states that they have had 335 volunteers working with the non-profit, along with 57 nursing students and 115 interns.

For more information about MOWLB, including their services and how to volunteer, you can visit their official website at https://mowlb.org and for more information on MOWLB’s “Save a Veteran (End the Wait)” Campaign, you can visit https://www.endthewait-longbeach.com/.