WesleyLife Meals on Wheels

04/08/2026

We’re proud to partner with Athene and grateful for their generous support of our mission. They are true game changers—always driven to do more—and they showed up in a big way last week!

Take a look at this behind-the-scenes video from our AmeriCorps member Sarah, featuring dozens of Athene volunteers harvesting fresh greens in our hydroponic farm and serving 60 Meals on Wheels participants 82 meals in our community.

https://watch.oneday.com/v/7O4T6ssbKl

Thank you, Athene, for making a real impact! 💚

OneDay - Thanks Athene! 💚 Meals on Wheels - Video by Shannon Draayer

04/05/2026

Rejoice - He is risen! On behalf of everyone at WesleyLife, we wish you a blessed, hope-filled Easter Sunday. Please enjoy this greeting that our president and CEO, Rob Kretzinger, sent to team members last week.

***

Easter offers us something we all need: a quiet invitation to slow down and notice what matters. I don’t know about you, but as spring approaches, I want to be outdoors. On my walks, I notice signs of renewal all around me, and I’m reminded that each day is a new chance to make a difference.

A Scripture verse that comes to mind when I think about this season is from Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” It’s a reminder that growth and possibility are always unfolding, even in moments when they can be easy to miss.

Across WesleyLife, we see growth and possibility lived out every day. They can be present in small acts of kindness, in moments of reassurance, and in the trust placed in us by those we serve. Each interaction carries an invitation to live life with a greater sense of meaning, to lean into hope, and to pursue joy. That is both the privilege of this work and the responsibility we share.

As I prepare to retire in a little less than two months’ time, I’m thinking of my own renewal as I seek God’s plan for my next chapter. The fact that I’m able to prepare a “second act” is a testimony to what we do as a health and well-being organization; in previous generations, retirement was a time of rest. I’m looking forward to a little of that, sure … but mostly, I feel overwhelming gratitude for the health that will allow me to continue to make some kind of impact, and to be present and active with my wife, our children, and our six grandchildren.

I’ll leave you with this: The earlier we work on our health and well-being, the better. Please fill your body with good food, move naturally, connect regularly with those you care about, and partner with your health care provider on ways you can maximize your one precious life.

Whether or not an Easter celebration is a tradition for you, I wish you in the days ahead some time to rest, to spend time with the people who mean something to you, and to reflect on the difference you make. Your presence matters. Your work matters. And the impact you have reaches farther than you may ever know.

On behalf of our leadership team, thank you for all you bring to WesleyLife and to one another.

04/02/2026

Last night we celebrated the powerful bond between pets and the people we serve at the opening of Side by Side, a portrait series honoring companionship in the Meals on Wheels community featuring photography from local artist Joe Crimmings. Guests were inspired by the larger than life images on our first floor and touching stories from 11 clients featured in the series. The artist, Joe, shared that the scale of the prints was intentional: pets aren’t a small part of our lives—they’re larger than life, and they deserved to be just as big on our walls.

We were honored to welcome City of Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen for the evening, along with clients featured in the series, dedicated volunteers, partners, and friends who made this celebration so meaningful.

A huge thank-you to Chef Aaron Holt (Catering by Doolittle Farm) for the wonderful food and to the incredible Meals on Wheels team for making this event possible from start to finish. This project was made possible through a grant from Meals on Wheels America and shines a light on the companionship pets provide—especially for older adults who live alone. It’s a beautiful reminder that nourishment is about more than meals; it’s about connection, dignity, and being seen.

04/01/2026

This afternoon, we’re hosting something special, and you're invited.

"Side by Side: Portraits of Pets & Their People in the Meals on Wheels Community" is more than an art exhibit. It’s part of our “20 stories for 20 years” series, created in honor of Meals on Wheels’ 20th anniversary — a milestone that celebrates the people, connections, and moments that have shaped Meals on Wheels over the years.

Through a series of portraits and stories, you’ll meet individuals who receive Meals on Wheels and the pets who bring them comfort, purpose, and companionship each day. You’ll also experience how something as simple as a knock on the door can make a meaningful difference.

Join us today:
📍 Meals on Wheels Generations Room, 3206 University Ave., Des Moines (near Drake University)
🕓 4 - 6 p.m.
🎟️ Free and open to the community

Stop in, walk through the exhibit, enjoy light refreshments, and hear a brief program sharing the stories behind the work.

If you’ve been curious about Meals on Wheels or are looking for something meaningful and fun to do this evening, this event is worth your time. And if you can’t make it, check back tomorrow; we'll be sharing photos from the event!

03/31/2026

We’re proud to partner with WesleyLife Meals on Wheels through our AniMeals program, helping ensure that clients can continue caring for the pets they love.

Our partners are hosting a special event, “Side by Side: Portraits of Pets & Their People,” celebrating the powerful bond between people and their companions — something we see every week through AniMeals. 🐶🐱🐦

This is a beautiful opportunity to support an organization that shares our mission of keeping people and their pets healthy, connected, and together. Stop by April 1st to see these stories and learn how you can get involved.

📅 Learn more and RSVP here:
https://facebook.com/events/s/side-by-side-portraits-of-pets/807138258460628/

03/26/2026

Des Moines-based Principal Financial Group is in the middle of a volunteer effort to support meal deliveries and well-being checks for older adults and military veterans in the Des Moines area by "taking over" WesleyLife Meals on Wheels deliveries all week! Principal team members also are helping to harvest greens in the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm on the Meals on Wheels campus.

WesleyLife deeply appreciates Principal's prioritization of giving back to people in need throughout the Greater Des Moines community. Enjoy this WOI-TV WeAreIowa story on the difference their efforts made to one east-side resident yesterday.

88-year-old Janice Killian says Meals on Wheels allows her to keep her independence.

03/23/2026

National Volunteer Month is right around the corner. In early observation, we're featuring a story about two dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers whose motivation to give of their time is straightforward: They saw a need, and they responded. Read about Tom and Linda Corson in the link below.

For Tom and Linda Corson, delivering meals means building relationships, supporting pets, and showing up with care each week.

03/20/2026

We’re incredibly grateful to Midwestone, A Division Of Nicolet National Bank and the MidWest One Foundation for their generous gift supporting our hydroponic farm 🌱

It was a pleasure connecting with the team from their Central Iowa Market during a recent visit. Their investment is helping fund critical equipment that will allow us to expand production and increase our impact across the community. We’re also thankful for MidWestOne’s continued commitment to volunteering.

Thank you, MidWestOne, for growing with us and helping nourish our community!

03/18/2026

It’s National Sloppy Joe Day, and this classic Iowa favorite made its way onto our Meals on Wheels menu today 🍽️

While our team may have skipped the social media trend of enjoying our sandwiches on camera, we can confirm they were thoroughly enjoyed behind the scenes.

03/18/2026

Want to learn more about the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm on the WesleyLife Meals on Wheels campus? Travel Iowa features the farm in its Farm to Table series, highlighting how our own Amanda Kanehl and her team are joining other growers in promoting food as medicine to make Iowa healthier. Take a moment to watch!

https://hubs.li/Q04760p90