Free, home-delivered meals to help you heal after a hospital stay.
Coming home from the hospital is a big step, and shopping and cooking aren’t always easy right away. Through our Hospital Discharge Program, Meals on Wheels Durham delivers up to 14 free meals over two weeks to people returning home after a hospital stay. It’s a bridge, so you can rest and recover with good food on the table.
The Program at a Glance
- Cost: Free to participants
- Meals: Up to 14 meals over two weeks
- Meal type: Hot or frozen, depending on availability and delivery arrangements
- Delivery: Monday through Friday, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
- Who it’s for: People returning home after a hospital stay who need temporary meal help. Priority goes to Durham County residents.
- Dates: Enroll by February 10, 2027. Our final meal service is February 26, 2027. Enrollment is subject to eligibility and available funding.
How to Refer & Sign Up
Findhelp
Search for Meals on Wheels Durham and submit a referral on the public platform, for yourself or for someone else.
Online
Fill out MOWD's meal service application. It works for individuals and for those helping someone else.
Unite Us
A secure platform for health care, social service, and government agencies. Participating organizations can send referrals directly to our team.
What Happens Next
- MOWD receives the referral through Findhelp, Unite Us or our online application.
- Our team contacts the prospective participant to confirm eligibility, complete enrollment, and set up meal delivery.
- Meals start arriving. Participants can choose either a daily hot meal or a frozen meal for up to 14 meals over two weeks, Monday to Friday.
Important: Submitting a referral does not guarantee enrollment. Please encourage the individual to answer calls or respond to emails from Meals on Wheels Durham so the process can move forward promptly.
Questions
Call us at 919-667-9424 or email our Client Services Coordinator at emme@mowdurham.org to learn more about the program.
Why it matters
A recent Duke University School of Medicine study, published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, looked at 368 adults age 60 and older who went home from one of three Duke hospitals and were at risk of food insecurity or malnutrition.
People who got their first meal within nine days of leaving the hospital saw the greatest benefit. When meals arrive early, people can put their energy toward healing.