CareLink announced it has received $253,320 in grant funding from Meals on Wheels America through the organization’s 2026 Meeting Unmet Need initiative. The funding allows CareLink to add 150 seniors to its Meals on Wheels program over a 10-month grant period — neighbors who were already deemed eligible for services but remained on a waiting list due to funding limitations. In total, these funds will support the delivery of more than 27,000 meals to central Arkansas seniors.
“This grant will make a meaningful difference for many seniors in our community,” said Luke Mattingly, CEO of CareLink. “We are grateful to Meals on Wheels America for investing in central Arkansas and in the seniors we serve.”
CareLink was one of just 22 organizations selected nationwide to share in $6 million awarded by Meals on Wheels America, based on demonstrated unmet need and the proven capacity to deploy resources quickly and effectively. Selection reflects both the depth of need in central Arkansas and CareLink’s readiness to respond.
The need this grant addresses is real and urgent. By 2030, roughly 1 in 4 Arkansans will be over the age of 60, and they are aging into a state already struggling to feed its residents. Arkansas has the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. A 2026 University of Arkansas study found that nearly 30 percent of adult Arkansans (roughly 688,000 people) lack consistent, reliable access to nutritious food. For older adults, that risk is compounded by fixed incomes, isolation, and limited mobility, making reliable meal delivery not just a comfort, but a lifeline.
CareLink serves more than 12,000 seniors across central Arkansas, and demand for Meals on Wheels continues to grow. Meeting the needs of a rapidly aging population will require sustained investment from government, philanthropic partners, and the broader community. This grant is a significant step in the right direction and proof that when need is demonstrated and organizations are ready, meaningful support follows.
“Across the country, Meals on Wheels providers are working tirelessly to meet the growing needs of older adults in their communities,” said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Through our Meeting Unmet Need initiative, we are investing in local programs so they can expand their reach and ensure more seniors receive the nutritious meals, human connection and support they need to live safely and independently.”
To learn more about CareLink or how to support central Arkansas seniors, visit carelink.org.
