Meals on Wheels and More of Austin (MOWAM) depends on its volunteers to deliver 14,000 hot meals the nonprofit cooks for homebound adults each week. Texas Gas Service, which supplies natural gas in much of Austin, employs more than 20 volunteers who help deliver these meals around Austin each week.
Last year, Texas Gas Service learned the 43-year-old nonprofit agency needed a new cargo van to transport meals from the agency’s central kitchen to satellite distribution sites across the city. Employees of the natural gas company championed MOWAM to the ONE Gas Foundation, the charitable arm of Texas Gas Service’s parent company – ONE Gas.
Because of employees’ recommendations and all the good that MOWAM does for the community, the ONE Gas Foundation recently awarded MOWAM with a $75,000 grant.
“We are glad to be able to make a positive impact on the community through grants for nonprofits like Meals on Wheels,” said Jim Jarrett, Texas Gas Service vice president of operations. “Financial gifts along with education about the benefits of using compressed natural gas as a fuel source are a win for our company and the community we serve.”
The grant enabled MOWAM to buy a cargo van and convert it to use natural gas. The gift also paid for the purchase and installation of an on-site natural gas filling station. By the end of July, both the vehicle and the pump were ready to go. The move is expected to save MOWAM almost $40,000 over the life of the van – the equivalent of 15,600 meals for MOWAM’s clients. In addition to the financial benefits, using natural gas also supports the agency’s commitment to the environment.
“We are so very grateful to the ONE Gas Foundation and Texas Gas Service for their rock-solid commitment to homebound older adults and our environment,” said Dan Pruett, CEO of Meals on Wheels and More.