Because people like you show up every day, Meals on Wheels People can keep older adults nourished, connected, and independent. Now, together, we’re taking the next step: building a permanent home for this work on Portland’s east side.
In 2021, we purchased a 17,000-square-foot building at 4035 SE 82nd Avenue to create the purpose-built Eastside Resource Center — a welcoming hub where older adults can not only access meals and services in one place but that also serves as a resilience hub for Portland as a whole. Currently under construction and estimated to open in late 2026, the building is the focus of the Together at the Table campaign and a milestone in how Meals on Wheels People is investing in the future of our community.
Why This Moment Matters
By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older will grow by nearly 50%. Our region is aging faster than the national average.
At the same time, rising costs and funding changes are causing an increase in the need for our services. We’ve recently increased Central Kitchen production to 7,200 meals per day and anticipate serving more than 100,000 more meals this year than we did last year.
Meals on Wheels People is leading the way — innovating and preparing for the future so no older adult is left behind.
What This New Hub Makes Possible
Imagine choosing a meal that fits your culture, schedule, and appetite while sharing a laugh with a friend at the same table — then getting help with technology, health referrals, or other partner services without having to travel across town. Here, older adults can get the support they need while maintaining their independence and dignity.
Centrally located in a high-need area of Portland, the Eastside Resource Center is designed from the ground up to reduce barriers to service, drive innovation, meet the increased need, and maximize our ability to respond in emergencies.
A welcoming entry where participants can come for a meal and stay for support. On-site partner offices and a wellness room provide coordinated services — from utility and veterans assistance to foot care and mental health support — helping older adults improve health, independence, and well-being, all in one accessible space.
An innovative, flexible dining space designed for choice and connection. With fast-casual service and expanded hours, participants can decide what, how, and when they eat. The new kitchen also allows for culturally specific menu options, fostering belonging and connection. Community input from Karen, Somali, Burmese, Tongan, and Chinese leaders has helped shape this space to reduce barriers and meet the needs of those we serve most.
A tech center where older adults stay connected to family, friends, and their community. Participants can attend AARP Senior Planet classes in multiple languages, get device support, and engage in social activities — from virtual trips abroad to intergenerational programs with Meals 4 Kids families and volunteers.
A commercial kitchen expands meal production when needed and provides a backup for emergencies, capable of producing 2,000 meals per day on the east side. The facility also stores 45,000 frozen and 30,000 shelf-stable meals.
A versatile public gathering area for Meals on Wheels People programs, community rentals, and events. It can transform into a warming or cooling center or emergency shelter when needed.
Designed for Today — and for What Comes Next
Intentionally designed to function as a resilience hub, the Eastside Resource Center is flexible, sustainable, and built to respond when it matters most. Solar power, battery storage, and a generator, funded by grants from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, a program of the City of Portland, and Portland General Electric’s Renewable Development Fund, with Energy Trust of Oregon incentives, ensure the building can continue operating during outages, keeping meals and essential services running without interruption.
With a public gathering space, capacity for community partners to deliver services on-site, and the ability to transform into a warming or cooling center or emergency shelter when needed, this building is more than just a Meals on Wheels People building. It is food security infrastructure, emergency preparedness infrastructure, and a shared community resource.
Be Part of the Next Chapter
Join us in shaping the Eastside Resource Center. Follow our progress, celebrate milestones, and see how your support is transforming lives. Visit mowp.org/together to learn more about the Eastside Resource Center and the Together at the Table campaign or contact Tina Libby at 503-953-8176 or [email protected] to sign up for a guided tour.
Together, we’re building a brighter future where meals, services, and community come together — and no older adult is left behind.