Are you looking for a meaningful experience for your 8-11-year-old this summer? The Visiting Nurse Association has a great opportunity! Our camp was created to empower the next generation of volunteers and philanthropists by teaching campers:

• The reality of senior hunger in our community
• The importance of good nutrition
• How to combat social isolation
• The gift of volunteerism

Who can attend?

The VNA Meals on Wheels Kids Camp is for children 8-11 years old.

Each camp is limited to 20 campers.

When is the camp?

• Monday, June 8th -Friday June 12th from 9:30 am-2:30 pm
  • Full week option
  • Three-day option
  • Two-day option

Need Help?

For questions about VNA Kids Camp, please contact Ryan Jackson.

Email at ryan.jackson@vnatexas.org or (214) 689-2653.

Sign up here.

During the month of February, we had the pleasure of welcoming back members of the Highland Park United Methodist Church choir as volunteers to support our monthly Nourishing Neighbor delivery program. During their time with us, these volunteers helped to carry out our mission of combating senior hunger.

The volunteers representing Highland Park UMC were able to make a positive impact on the Dallas County community by packaging 200 boxes of nonperishable food items. Thank you again to the HPUMC Choir team for partnering with us, and we look forward to hosting your team again in the future!

If you or your group are interested in partnering with VNA Meals on Wheels, please contact our Community Health & Engagement Coordinator Yakia McKinnie at yakia.mckinnie@vnatexas.org or 214-689-2464.

This March, we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program that was signed into law on March 22, 1972. This landmark legislation prompted the creation of a national senior nutrition network that provides vital meal services and social connection to millions of seniors in need.

Please celebrate with us throughout March by inviting your family and friends to deliver meals, speak out for seniors and garner support to fund and protect senior nutrition programs. 

Three easy options:

OPTION ONE: Pick a neighbor or friend who hasn’t delivered a VNA Meals on Wheels

route before. Invite them to go with you on a VNA Meals on Wheels route during March.

Sign-up at https://volunteer.vnatexas.org/Registration

OPTION TWO: Donate to VNA Meals on Wheels www.vnatexas.org/give

OPTION THREE: Attend a Giveback Event.

All month long, your favorite restaurants are giving back! Dine at the locations below and a portion of your purchase will support VNA. Explore the calendar above and visit
The March for Meals webpage for full details on dates, times, codes, and more! 

Our Pet Care Program provided over 5,000 pounds of pet food to 317 dogs and 152 cats in the month of February!

We have several great opportunities to get involved with the pet care program:

• Pet Food Packout Every 3rd Thursday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Pet Food Delivery Every 3rd Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Events can be found in your volunteer portal under the calendar tab.

Sign into your portal using this link https://volunteer.vnatexas.org/Login

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with Meals on Wheels’ Teen Board, helping at pet pack-outs, or delivering a pet meal, please reach out to Ryan Jackson at 469.418.4618 or ryan.jackson@vnatexas.org

The Meals on Wheels Teen Board started 2026 with a bang, volunteering over 50 hours each month supporting both regular meal deliveries and the pet program!

Even in the cold, following the recent snowstorm, our teens showed up to help with pet breakdown, tackling 32 giant bags of dog food — that’s over 1,600 pounds of food for pets in need. Their dedication ensured that every route was covered, and hundreds of pets and their families were served. But their impact didn’t stop there.

The Teen Board also gave back to the broader community by volunteering at Hope Supply, where they repackaged an incredible 9,240 diapers — approximately 370 packs of 25 diapers — supporting around 123 families. Laura, Hope Supply’s Program Manager, shared:

“We loved having the Meals on Wheels Teen Board come out and help us pack diapers to be sent out to so many mothers in our community. We could not serve the families in our community without wonderful groups like the Teen Board.”

In addition, the teens assembled Parkland Bags for the EMCAP program (Extending Maternal Care After Pregnancy). These special bags, filled with diapers, wipes, and baby hygiene essentials, will provide important support to mothers in South Dallas during their follow-up visits throughout the first year postpartum.

We’re turning up the heat for 2026! Our Celebrity Chef is none other than Chef Rick Martinez—James Beard Award winner, cookbook author, and charismatic host. Rick is flying in from Mexico to share the vibrant flavors and stories of Mexican cuisine, infused with his Texas roots.

Join us at the VNA Haggerty Kitchen for an unforgettable culinary experience:

• Comida at the Kitchen (Lunch): Festive food stations, specialty cocktails, and options for tables or individual tickets. (tickets/tables starting at $500)
• Fiesta at the Kitchen (Dinner): Everything you love from lunch PLUS a VIP Mezcal & Mole tasting reception for table sponsors—right inside the kitchen! (tickets/tables starting at $750)

We’re proud to honor the incredible leaders making this event possible:

• Co-Chairs: Katie & Glen Edwards and Sarah & Luke Pak
• Honorary Chairs: Meaders & Robert Ozarow

Stay tuned for more information about raffle prizes and auction items!

www.vnatexas.org/celebritychef

We are always happy to hear from you and are here to help make your volunteer experience better! Thank you so much for choosing VNA Meals on Wheels!

Karri Hopper, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

hopperk@vnatexas.org (214) 689-2209

Yakia McKinnie, Community Health & Engagement Coordinator

yakia.mckinnie@vnatexas.org (214) 689-2464

Ryan Jackson, Corporate & Community Engagement Liaison

ryan.jackson@vnatexas.org (214) 689-2653

© VNATexas.org

1420 W. Mockingbird Ln., Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75247

Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing care to our community, enhancing health and well-being with compassion, dignity and integrity. VNA is North Texas’ most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first, most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas.  VNA offers Meals on Wheels in Dallas County, Supportive Palliative Care, and adult and pediatric Hospice Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, and Wise counties. Visit www.vnatexas.org or call 214-689-0000 for more information. 

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