Meals on Wheels’ volunteers Emily and Ryan picking up meals from Wilder to deliver to participants.

Showing Up, One Meal at a Time with Meals on Wheels

Every week, just outside downtown St. Paul, a familiar routine unfolds.

Judges and court staff from the Minnesota appellate courts gather, grab insulated bags, review delivery lists, and head out into nearby neighborhoods. They ring doorbells. They hand off meals. They pause for a brief conversation or a smile before heading back to work.

By the late 1990s, court employees were already delivering meals through Wilder’s Meals on Wheels program. Nearly 30 years later, that rhythm continues. It is a partnership rooted in presence.

A Longstanding Commitment

Emily, a Law Clerk with the Minnesota Court of Appeals, has been part of Meals on Wheels since 2007. In addition to delivering meals, she helps make the partnership work. She coordinates schedules, works around judges’ and staff calendars, recruits new volunteers, and helps ensure routes are covered.

“When my kids were little, it was hard to find ways to fit service work into a full-time job and parenting,” she said. “Meals on Wheels made it possible to stay engaged with the community in a real way, even during a busy season of life.”

Now, with her children grown, Emily continues to advocate for the program within the court. It has become part of the culture.

Service as Public Engagement

The Minnesota Supreme Court is the state’s highest court, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court. Judges hear appeals from district courts and administrative agencies, reviewing cases ranging from family law and civil matters to criminal cases. The work is demanding and often happens far from direct interaction with the people their decisions affect.

That distance is part of why Meals on Wheels has remained meaningful for many volunteers.

“We exist to serve the people of Minnesota,” Emily shares. “It matters to be out there and be part of the community we serve.”

More Than a Meal

Meals on Wheels is, at its core, about food access. But the impact reaches far beyond nutrition.

Judge Tracy Smith began volunteering in 2020, during a time when isolation and uncertainty were widespread.

“With our concept of community so battered by the pandemic, I was grateful to do something that involved connection and trust between people,” she said. “As a judge working at the Minnesota Judicial Center, I love seeing more of our neighborhood and getting to meet some of the people who live here.”

For Judge Smith, the hour spent delivering meals is also a chance to connect with colleagues outside formal roles.

“I also love getting to know our law clerks and staff who volunteer,” she said. “It’s a fun, informal hour together away from the workplace.”

What stands out most to her is how much care exists beyond the program itself.

“It’s not just the support Meals on Wheels provides,” she said. “It’s the way neighbors and co-tenants look out for one another. It’s a reminder that all of us have important roles to play in supporting our community.”

A Shared Sense of Humanity

Judge Keala Ede came to the Minnesota Court of Appeals after serving in direct legal services and as a district court judge. Volunteering with Meals on Wheels brought back something he missed.

“I was motivated to volunteer because the opportunity to share food with people throughout our community is so fulfilling,” Judge Ede said. “The experience has been meaningful for me as a judge, public servant and Minnesotan.”

During deliveries, what stays with him is the simplicity of those moments.

“Meals on Wheels reflects some of our highest values, generosity and grace,” he said. “What stands out is the shared sense of humanity in that moment on a client’s doorstep, when you share not only a meal, but also a smile.”

Over time, some relationships last for years. Volunteers get to know residents who care for their buildings and greet them week after week. Others move more frequently, a reminder of the instability many people face. Each interaction matters, whether it happens once or over a decade.

Why Wilder Matters

Wilder’s Meals on Wheels program supports older adults and people with disabilities across St. Paul, offering meals alongside regular wellness checks and connections. Volunteers are often one of the few consistent points of contact someone has.

That consistency is why long-term partnerships like the one with the appellate courts matter so much.

They reflect a shared understanding that community is built through showing up. Not just once, but over time.

“It’s a special kind of care,” Emily says. “You help take care of someone, but it’s also gratifying. You see their reaction. You know it matters.”

Continuing the Tradition

Judges and court staff continue to make themselves available for deliveries. Some have carried the work with them even as their careers moved them to other courts. The commitment travels with them.

Meals on Wheels has continued at the appellate courts because it aligns with who they are. Public servants serving the public, in a way that is personal, practical, and deeply human.

One meal. One doorstep. One moment of connection at a time.