Plano-based Toyota has deployed a team to work with VNA – Meals on Wheels and Meals on Wheels Collin County to develop a web and app-based platform to promote efficient meal delivery, improve volunteer engagement, and maximize data collection, according to a press release. The project is funded through the Lyda Hill Foundation and Toyota. Toyota will also be sharing principles of the Toyota Production System with the staff of both organizations to find improvements in their daily work, including meal production, delivery and volunteer recruitment.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro area, which has the 10th largest senior population in the U.S., 9% of seniors live below the poverty line and nearly 25,000 households headed by seniors have limited mobility. It’s an issue that Toyota, Collin County Meals on Wheels and VNA Texas – Meals on Wheels, are hoping to tackle head on by working together.
Throughout North Texas and across the nation, the number of individuals who rely on Meals on Wheels for their daily nutritional needs is growing. In Dallas County alone, there are more than 6,000 seniors waiting to receive meal service.
“Through technology we can help improve the quality of life for seniors, bringing critical services and opportunities to their doors,” said Ryan Klem, Toyota Social Innovation, in the press release. “Our aim is to create a solution that can be shared with other Meals on Wheels organizations throughout the country, helping to address the growing need for their services while informing care.”
Read the full release here.
ABOUT VNA – MEALS ON WHEELS
Established in 1934, VNA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that helps older adults age with dignity and independence at home. VNA is the community’s most trusted provider of quality healthcare services in the home and was the first and is the most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, and VNA Hospice and VNA Care Choices in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant and Van Zandt Counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org for more information.
ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS COLLIN COUNTY
Meals on Wheels Collin County (MOWCC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Established in 1976, MOWCC assists disabled and older adults by combating hunger and isolation, allowing them to remain healthy and independent in their families, homes, and communities. MOWCC offers hot, nutritious meals five days a week along with wellness visits to the senior citizens of Collin County. For more information, visit the organization’s website.
