Meals on Wheels recipient looking out the window

Your donations make a difference.

When you donate to Meals on Wheels, you’re helping ensure that seniors don’t have to worry about where they’ll get their next meal. As little as $35 will provide a week of nutritious meals and safety checks to someone in need.

Metro Meals on Wheels is a 501(c)3 Organization – 31-1501057

  • Donation icon

    Donate Now

    Donate to Meals on Wheels and help ensure that seniors across the Twin Cities receive the nutrition and social interaction they need to live independently.

  • Sustaining donors icon

    Be a Monthly Donor

    Make a regular commitment to the delivery of nutritious meals to seniors in your neighborhood while saving both time and paperwork.

  • Legacy donors icon

    Estate and Legacy Donations

    Learn how you can make a planned gift to Meals on Wheels and leave a legacy of providing nutritious home-delivered meals to seniors in need.

  • Office worker icon

    Workplace Matching

    Increase the power of your donation toward healthy meals for seniors by asking your employer about matching donations.

  • Stock icon

    Donate Stock

    Enjoy maximum tax advantages and make your donation toward healthy, nutritious meals for seniors go further.

  • Car icon

    Donate a Car

    Give new purpose to an old car, truck, RV, or boat by turning it into cash to help address senior isolation and hunger in our community.

  • Mail and phone icon

    Mail or Phone

    Donate to Meals on Wheels by mail or phone and bring nutritious meals to seniors in your community.

  • Security icon

    Privacy and Security

    Keeping your information safe and secure is extremely important to us. Our Donor Privacy and Security Policy details the measures taken to keep your personal and financial information safe.

  • FAQ icon

    Donor FAQ’s

    Have a question about making a donation to Meals on Wheels? Find the answers here.

Become a Monthly Donor

By making a recurring monthly donation, you make a lasting commitment to the delivery of healthy meals to local seniors, allowing them to live independently at home. Becoming a sustaining donor is a great way to help ensure the stability and effectiveness of local Meals on Wheels programs.

Becoming a sustaining donor is easy! Simply enter the amount you would like to donate along with your payment information, and we will automatically charge your credit card each month. In addition to saving yourself time, your money goes further as a sustaining donor because it reduces administrative expenses related to mailings and paperwork.

You choose the amount at which you would like to participate and contact us at any time if you would like to make changes to your donation. Click here to donate now or call us at (612) 623-3363 to become a sustaining donor today!

Donate Stock

Did you know you can donate stock to support Meals on Wheels? Because of the tax advantages that come with donating appreciated stock, many donors choose this route as a way to make their dollars go further.

You can deduct the full value of the stock at the time the donation is made, which offers the opportunity to maximize your impact while potentially reducing your tax liability. Donating stock to Metro Meals on Wheels is an excellent way to do your part to ensure local seniors get the nutritious meals they need to live independently.

Contact Patrick Rowan at (612) 623-3363 or [email protected] to learn more about the benefits of stock donations.

If you are ready to make a stock donation, feel free to complete and return this form. Completed forms can be emailed to [email protected]  or mailed to:

Metro Meals on Wheels
1200 Washington Ave., Ste. 380
Minneapolis, MN 55415

If you need it, our brokerage account information is as follows:

Metro Meals on Wheels Inc
Tax ID# 31-1501057
DTC# 0725
Raymond James Account# 30727274

Ryan Andert
Financial Advisor, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Bremer Investments
8800 Hwy 7
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Office (952)-932-6745
Fax (952)-932-6757
[email protected]

Legacy Giving

Become a Sustaining Donor - Meals on Wheels

Donating a legacy gift to Meals on Wheels is a great way to make a lasting impact in your community. By including Meals on Wheels in your will or estate plan, you help secure the future of Meals on Wheels and ensure that seniors in your community get the nourishment and daily visit they need for years to come.

The most straightforward way you can make a legacy donation is by including Metro Meals on Wheels in your will or estate plan.

Bequests: If you are creating or amending your will, you can use the following specific language for bequests to Metro Meals on Wheels: I [your name] give to Metro Meals on Wheels Inc, 1200 Washington Ave., Suite #380, Minneapolis, MN 55415, EIN #31-1501057, [percent of my estate, or the sum of dollars], or the remainder of my estate.

Beneficiary Designation: Another easy and tax-beneficial way to include Metro Meals on Wheels in your estate plan is by designating it as a beneficiary in a life insurance policy or your retirement account. Designate Metro Meals on Wheels, Inc., EIN #31-1501057, and contact your insurance agent or financial planner to confirm your plans.

There are numerous other ways to make legacy gifts and Metro Meals on Wheels is happy to work with you and your financial planner to accommodate your needs. And if you plan to make a legacy gift, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Metro Meals on Wheels Executive Director Patrick Rowan at (612) 623-3363 or [email protected] to discuss your legacy giving plans.

Workplace Matching Donations

meals-on-wheels-meal-delivery-volunteers

Taking advantage of your employer’s workplace giving program is a great way to multiply the impact of your donation through a matching gift to Metro Meals on Wheels. Many employers provide matching gifts, so it pays to check with your company to see if they’ll match your contribution.

How do I find out if my employer matches donations?
Even if you’re not aware of a matching donation policy, check with your human resources or payroll department to see if a program exists. Some companies have matching gift policies that aren’t broadly advertised.

How do I submit a matching gift?
We suggest submitting your donation in accordance with the best practices of your company. Your employer should be able to help you determine how to submit your donation to access matching funds. If you are asked to submit it, our Federal Tax ID number is 31-1501057.

Can I donate through United Way?
While Metro Meals on Wheels is not a designated agency of the United Way, you may request that contributions to United Way go directly to Metro Meals on Wheels. If you’d like to designate Metro Meals on Wheels as the recipient of a donation to United Way, ask your employer for a donor designation form or further instruction.

If you have any questions on workplace giving, please contact us at (612) 623-3363 or [email protected].

Donate a Car or Vehicle

You can give new purpose to an old car, truck, RV, or boat by turning it into cash to help address senior isolation and hunger in our community. Donating your vehicle to Meals on Wheels is easy and impactful through our partnership with CARS, Inc.

We Accept All Types of Vehicles for Donation

We accept most vehicles, running or not, including cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, campers, off-road vehicles, planes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles.

How to Donate Your Car or Vehicle

Donating is easy, free, and secure! We convert vehicles into cash, which becomes a welcome donation. Your gift may qualify for a tax deduction, and you avoid the cost and hassle of repairing or selling a vehicle you no longer want.

  1. To get started, call 844-583-8227 or complete this simple donation form.
  2. Schedule your free and convenient pickup.
  3. Receive a donation receipt for your generous gift. You will get a tax deduction if you are an itemizing taxpayer!

FAQs for Car Donations

No. There is no cost to the donor. All expenses are deducted from the gross sales price, and if the costs ever exceed the price, those costs are covered by CARS, our vehicle donation program provider.

All vehicles are considered! We strive to accept all types of donated vehicles, running or not, including cars, trucks, trailers, boats, RVs, motorcycles, campers, off-road vehicles, planes, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and most other motorized vehicles. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please complete this simple online vehicle donation form, or call CARS toll-free at 844-583-8227 during regular hours of operation.

CARS is available seven days a week. Please call 844-583-8227 or email [email protected] to get the answers to your questions.

Hours of Operation (ET):

8:00am – 9:00pm (ET), Mon – Fri
9:00am – 8:00pm (ET), Saturday
11:00am – 7:30pm (ET), Sunday

This varies from state to state. Each Vehicle Donor Service Representative is equipped with a 50-state guide for the steps necessary in each state and will advise you of these steps during the donation process.

No. For states with this requirement, you may donate your vehicle without a smog certificate or safety inspection.

Yes! We can accept most vehicles, running or not. However, it must be in one piece and towable, have an engine, and be tow truck accessible. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please complete this simple online vehicle donation form, or call toll-free at 844-583-8227 during regular hours of operation.

It varies, so please wait to mark the Title until after you have discussed it with the vendor picking up your vehicle as they are experts in your local area. If you have questions, you can call 844-583-8227 to speak to a representative.

Yes! Our vehicle donation program can provide quick and convenient vehicle pick-up and towing just about anywhere in all 50 states. To find out if we can accept your vehicle, please please complete this simple online vehicle donation form, or call 844-583-8227 during regular hours of operation.

Once you have provided CARS with all necessary information via the online vehicle donation form or over the phone with a Vehicle Donor Support Representative, they will arrange to have a licensed tow company pick up your vehicle at a time convenient for you. The vehicle will be picked up and taken to a sale location where it will be sold—all at no cost to you.

In many cases, once the donation record has been created, CARS can schedule the vehicle to be picked up on the initial call. In other cases, they will contact you within two to three business days to schedule a convenient appointment time with a preferred vendor. If you need your car picked up sooner, please let the Vehicle Donor Support Representative know during your initial call. They will do their best to accommodate your time frame. For more specific information pertaining to your vehicle donation, please call CARS at 844-583-8227.

Donated vehicles are sold through the used-car markets and provide crucial funding for Metro Meals on Wheels. CARS works with a very large network of nationwide and independent vendors to sell the vehicle and maximize donation proceeds. They analyze vendor pricing and performance on a regular basis to improve the process and ensure the best possible return for Metro Meals on Wheels and to maximize the donor’s tax benefit. For unique or specialty items that have been donated, they may use other means to sell the vehicle to help ensure the maximum funds are received for each donation.

CARS has multiple sales outlets and works hard to find the best buyer for each vehicle. The entire sale process may take four to 12 weeks. The net cash proceeds from your generous vehicle donation are sent to Metro Meals on Wheels within five business days upon the receipt of the sale proceeds from CARS auction or direct buyer providers.

In most states, you will need the clear Title to the vehicle. But if you do not have it, or have problems with your Title, please call us anyway. It is possible that other arrangements may be made. Any lien holder listed on the Title must be cleared and/or released by the bank. Please refer to the motor vehicle division in your state for clear instructions. Please call toll-free at 844-583-8227 with questions.

CARS carefully evaluates each vehicle to find the best buyers. They assess the year, make, model, location, and resale potential then monitor the sale to ensure maximum returns. In most cases, vehicles are sold through an auction facility. High-end or specialty vehicles are individually evaluated and sold for the highest market value.

Yes. Once your vehicle sells, CARS will either email and/or mail a thank-you letter on behalf of Metro Meals on Wheels, which serves as a copy of your tax receipt. Please note that if your vehicle sells for more than $500 and your tax identification number has been provided, an IRS Form 1098-C, ‘Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes’, will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sale stating the amount of gross proceeds received from your donation.

CARS, Inc. (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) runs the Meals on Wheels Vehicle Donation Program. CARS is an ISO 9001 certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in San Diego that operates under the governance of an independent board of directors and specializes in vehicle donation services for other nonprofits. CARS follows governmental compliance with all IRS and state regulations concerning vehicle donation programs, fundraising registrations, and charitable receipting requirements throughout all 50 states and Canada, as required. CARS has also maintained an A+ Better Business Bureau rating for over 10 years.

Yes! Vehicle donations are tax-deductible. Individual tax situations vary. For specific tax-related questions, please consult your tax advisor or refer to IRS Publication 4303.

Most vehicles are sold through local wholesale auctions and we work to get the highest return per vehicle for you and Metro Meals on Wheels. According to the IRS Guidelines, you may claim fair market value for your donation up to the actual sale value. If your vehicle is sold for more than $500, the maximum amount of your deduction will be the sales price of the vehicle which will be listed on your IRS Form 1098-C.

A special rule may apply if the donated vehicle sells for $500 or less. In this case, a deduction for the lesser of the vehicle’s fair market value on the date of the contribution may be claimed, or $500, provided you have written acknowledgment (i.e. the initial donation receipt or the thank-you letter you receive once the donation process is complete).

The “fair market value” of a vehicle is the price that you could sell it for in its current condition to another individual, willing seller and willing buyer, and it represents the cash that you give up to make the donation. A convenient source of this information is the private party sale value as shown in online valuation guides such as Kelley Blue Book.

In most cases, you will receive an initial donation receipt from the tow driver at the time of your vehicle pick-up. This initial acknowledgement will indicate your name as well as the year, make, model and condition of the vehicle you are donating. You will then be mailed a thank-you letter on behalf of Metro Meals on Wheels, which serves as a tax receipt, within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle. This will be your final tax document if your vehicle sold for less than $500.

If your vehicle sells for more than $500 and your tax identification number has been provided, an IRS Form 1098-C, ‘Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes’, will be mailed to you within 30 days of the sale stating the amount of gross proceeds received from your donation.

Please call 844-583-8227 during regular hours of operation, or email [email protected] for assistance.

Effective January 1, 2005, you are no longer required to have vehicles appraised. The value you may claim will be the amount of gross proceeds received from your vehicle. If your vehicle sells for more than $5,000, you will need to complete Section B of Form 8283 and obtain an acknowledgment signature on the form prior to claiming the deduction, and the completed form will need to be included with your income tax return.

There are many resources available to guide you through the vehicle donation process. Please click the links below to access IRS publications and resources. If you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to CARS toll-free at 844-583-8227 seven days a week during regular hours of operation.

This vehicle donation program protects the privacy of every donor. Donor information is not given to any organization except the IRS as required by law. Donor names and addresses are shared exclusively with the donor-designated organization. Social Security numbers required under the current tax law for vehicle donations are only shared with the IRS. Social Security Numbers are encrypted with AES256 encryption. The encryption key is stored remotely from the data. Controls are in place to limit who can request access to the decrypted Social Security Numbers with logs stored of each access.

State Notification proves that you are no longer the registered owner of the donated vehicle. Depending on the registered state of the vehicle, your next step (after your vehicle has been picked up) is to notify the state about your recent vehicle donation. Please only notify your state after the vehicle is picked up. This step may be required by the State and may include surrendering the license plates.

The steps needed to release your liability of a donated vehicle vary by state. Our Vehicle Donor Service Representatives can provide you with the steps necessary for each state. If you have questions about how to notify your state about your donated vehicle, please call 844-583-8227 seven days a week during regular hours of operation, or email [email protected].

Donate by Mail or Phone

Making a contribution to Metro Meals on Wheels by making a donation by phone or mail is an easy way to support the delivery of nutritious meals to seniors in your community. We’re happy to accommodate the donation method of your choice.

To donate by phone:

Call us at (612) 623-3363 to make a donation by credit card or electronic funds transfer (EFT). Our friendly staff will be happy to assist you with your donation. All you need to do is have your credit card or a check available.

To donate by mail:

Complete our donation form, or simply send a check to the following address:

Metro Meals on Wheels
1200 Washington Ave. S., Ste. 380
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Feel free to send us a note if you’d like to share why you’re donating to Meals on Wheels!

If you have any questions about donating, please contact us at (612) 623-3363 or at [email protected].

Donate Now

Donate to Meals on Wheels

Donate to Meals on Wheels and help ensure that seniors across the Twin Cities receive the nutrition and social interaction they need to live independently.

Donate Now