Miami Valley Meals (MVM) is celebrating six impactful years of nourishing the community on March 25. The nonprofit has continued to expand its services to meet the increasing demand for healthy, accessible meals in the Miami Valley community as food insecurity rates continue to rise. On April 3, they will be hosting a free meal distribution at City of Victory Deliverance Church in Trotwood.

Spring Meal Distribution for Families in Need:

MVM is partnering with City of Victory Deliverance Church and SICSA Pet Adoption & Wellness Center to host a pop-up meal distribution as part of its larger 6th year anniversary plans. The distribution, which is open to the public and intended for anyone who is in need of a meal, will be held Friday, April 3, from 4-6pm at City of Victory Deliverance Church, 489 S. Broadway St., Trotwood, Ohio 45426.

Free frozen meals will be available to anyone in need on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals will include ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and brownie dessert and are fully prepared. Meals will be frozen and can be reheated in a microwave or oven.

The meal distribution is made possible by local food donors, whose donations provided the essential components for an Easter meal. Honeybaked Ham in Centerville contributed hams and Gordon Food Service in Springfield contributed potatoes. MVM completed the meal with other donations from their pantry, including Killer Brownies and green beans contributed by numerous food drive organizers in recent months.

“With this unexpected donation of hams from Honeybaked Ham, and our upcoming anniversary, we felt it was a great time to host this pop-up distribution. We want everyone to have delicious meals made with love and want to ensure that no family goes without one this holiday,” said Amanda DeLotelle, MVM’s Executive Director.

SICSA will also be on site providing free pet food for cats and dogs. When asked about the collaboration, Jack Omer, SICSA President and CEO, said, “A 2023 PetSmart Charities survey found that 83% of pet owners struggling with food costs would skip their own meals to make sure their pet(s) ate. Partnering with great organizations like Miami Valley Meals to distribute pet food ensures we are doing our part to serve those at both ends of the (proverbial) leash.”

Miami Valley Meals 6th Anniversary:

MVM is dedicated to improving food access by providing chef-prepared, nutritious meals to partner organizations that directly serve the Miami Valley community. By sourcing 90% of ingredients from rescued and donated food, MVM is also reducing food waste. Together, MVM’s efforts make the Miami Valley food system more sustainable and equitable. From six years of hard work and passion, MVM’s chefs and volunteers have prepared more than 1.2 million meals and distributed them to 129+ nonprofit partners. In 2025, Miami Valley Meals partnered with 69 nonprofit organizations across the Miami Valley area, distributing approximately 4,000 nutritious, prepared meals each week from their kitchen on S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd.

As MVM looks to the future, the organization is seeking to expand and improve their services. Demand for MVM’s services continues to exceed the capacity of its current kitchen. To address this, MVM hopes to expand their services through kitchen renovations or relocation to improve food intake, increase meal production, and strengthen regional food resilience. This project has been named a Priority Project by the Dayton Region’s 2025–2026 Priority Development and Advocacy Committee (PDAC), emphasizing the community value of this effort. Beyond improving infrastructure, the organization plans to serve more culturally diverse meals with a partnership with the Afromeals Foundation, increase meal production, and continue to strengthen and grow our partnerships.

Amanda DeLotelle, Executive Director and Co-Founder, remarks on 6 years, “As Miami Valley Meals marks its sixth anniversary, we’re incredibly grateful for the community that has walked alongside us. From day one, Dayton has shown up for us and we want to keep going – to make sure everyone has meals made with love.”

MVM acknowledges that there is a growing need for their services. With 1 in 7 people in the Miami Valley experiencing food insecurity, they are currently working on a new strategic plan to address future programming and identify the next steps toward a future kitchen space. DeLotelle continues to lead the charge. “Together with our chefs, volunteers, and partners, we’ll keep working to uplift our community, seeking thoughtful ways to be more creative, effective, and inclusive in how we serve. Thank you for allowing us to be an extension of your kindness and your hope for a more food-secure region.”

On the day of their anniversary, March 25, the staff at MVM plan to volunteer at partnering organizations like URS Dayton, Hope Hill, East Dayton Fellowship, Salvation Army, and Dayton Equity Center in an effort to give back beyond their ongoing donations of meals.