Ms. Lillie

Ms. Lillie, 81, is one of the 5,000 people Meals on Wheels San Antonio serves annually. She's lived her whole life in San Antonio and has been married to her husband, Luis, for 54 years. Now both are retired; Ms. Lillie worked in school cafeterias for over 20 years, and her husband was a truck driver.

Now, Ms. Lillie stays home while battling an array of health issues, taking 17 pills every day. Her husband also has heart issues. Because of this, Ms. Lillie has the burden of having to stretch her fixed income to pay for medicine, bills and household items.

"Meals on Wheels helps us to survive," she says. "When you get old, you don't have money like you used to. There comes a point in life when you need help."

Ms. Lillie's dog, Chanel, also receives meals! Chanel and Ms. Lillie are part of our AniMeals program. After realizing that, like their owners, the pets of many Meals on Wheels San Antonio recipients were in need of nutritious food, we launched AniMeals, a program to provide pet food to nourish the pets of seniors.

"I no longer have to share my food with her," Ms. Lillie says. "She now has her own meals."

Programs like Meals on Wheels not only help clients stay independent in their homes, but also make sure that their furry companions stay with them.

"I have always loved animals," says Ms. Lillie. "Now that we are older, our pet has helped us heal in so many ways."

You can help people like Ms. Lillie and their pets by making a gift to Meals on Wheels San Antonio through your will or estate plan. To learn more, contact Vinsen Faris at 210-735-5115 or VinsenF@mowsatx.org.