Sarasota, FL – April 30, 2026 – Meals on Wheels of Sarasota is pleased to announce it has received a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support the launch of its new Medically Tailored Meal Program. Funding this grant was made possible by the Community Foundations Community Impact Fund.
This funding will help initiate a pilot program designed to serve individuals living with severe, chronic, or complex illnesses, as well as those experiencing limitations in activities of daily living, as defined by Food Is Medicine Coalition Medically Tailored Meal accreditation criteria. The program will initially focus on individuals managing diabetes and heart conditions.
In January 2026, Meals on Wheels of Sarasota was selected to participate in the six-month Food Is Medicine Coalition Accelerator Program. This national initiative is designed to refine, replicate, and scale medically tailored meal interventions, ensuring individuals managing serious chronic conditions have access to medically appropriate nutrition, regardless of geographic location or ability to pay.
The new program expands Meals on Wheels of Sarasota’s reach to a growing and vulnerable population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 194 million Americans lived with at least one chronic condition between 2013 and 2023. In Sarasota County, local data underscores the need: a Johns Hopkins Needs Assessment found that 50% of patients reported being diagnosed with high blood pressure, while 25% were identified as at risk for diabetes.
Medically tailored meals have been proven to improve health outcomes for individuals with conditions such as HIV/AIDS, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic liver disease. Research from the Aspen Institute’s 2024 Food Is Medicine Research Action Plan also shows these interventions can significantly reduce healthcare utilization, costs, and mortality among high-risk populations. Notably, the cost of providing medically tailored meals for up to six months can be comparable to a single day of hospitalization.
With an on-site kitchen and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) on staff, Meals on Wheels of Sarasota is uniquely equipped to deliver meals that meet individualized clinical dietary needs. This initiative aligns with broader healthcare trends emphasizing preventive care and nutrition security, positioning the organization as a key partner in improving health outcomes while reducing overall healthcare costs.
Rhonda Leiberick, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, added: “By expanding our services to address a critical unmet need among Sarasota’s highest-risk populations, we are evolving beyond traditional food assistance to become a clinical intervention—one that helps reduce hospital readmissions and lowers the total cost of care. We are grateful for this investment in a healthier community.”
To learn more about the Medically Tailored Meal Program, visit:
https://mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org/food-is-medicine/
About Meals on Wheels of Sarasota
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota provides nutritious meals, social interaction, and wellness checks to homebound seniors and individuals in need throughout the community. Since 1971, the organization has delivered more than 7 million meals, helping individuals maintain independence and improve quality of life. Volunteers play a vital role in preparing, packing, and delivering approximately 500 meals each day. The service area spans from University Parkway in the north to Laurel Road in the south, and from the eastern county border to Longboat, Lido, and Siesta Keys.
To learn more or make a donation, visit MealsOnWheelsOfSarasota.org.
About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $44.7 million last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $542 million to nonprofits in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit cfsarasota.org or call 941-955-3000.