MIFA’s 'Meals on Wheels' program making an impact in Memphis

Volunteers arrive at MIFA headquarters ready to deliever meals.

Photo by Hira Qureshi

The "Meal on Wheels" program, held by the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, is committed to delivering hot and nutritious lunches to the elderly with the help of dozens of volunteers and Jan. 27 was no exception.

A wide variety of volunteers, from members of 901 Ummah to those just trying to make a difference in the community, met at MIFA headquarters in downtown Memphis in the morning to divide into groups, receive a route, and distribute meals to the needy.

On this specific occasion, hot lunches and 2% milk were delivered, and volunteers went door-to-door delivering the lunches with smiles on their faces.

“It was a great time with great people to help a great city,” said first-time volunteer Ammaar Ahmed.

The "Meals on Wheels" program has benefited the community as a whole, serving 554,162 meals to 3,784 seniors in 2017. Of said meals, 1,191 were home-delivered, 1,292 were to congregate sites and 1,323 were through the "No Hungry Senior" initiative.

After all groups had completed their routes, they returned back to MIFA headquarters to reflect on their own experiences and actions and how contributing to the community impacted them as a whole.

“It makes you feel better and more appreciative when you see where these people live and how happy they are to get a meal,” said Bilal Siddiq, a regular volunteer.