A Conversation with Our Board President on Prescott Meals on Wheels
Curator’s Note: In a recent video interview, Prescott Meals on Wheels Board President Gary Fretwell shared his impactful journey with the organization, which he joined during the pandemic. Since its inception in 1973, the service has dramatically expanded from 10 to over 375 daily clients. However, increasing demand and rising community needs require urgent expansion of their facilities. Fretwell emphasizes the importance of evolving the organization to better serve and raise awareness within the community, working on projects to enhance marketing and advocacy efforts. His overarching goal is to fundamentally transform Prescott Meals on Wheels into a more capable nonprofit organization that effectively addresses community challenges. This article was written by Gary Fretwell, an author of multiple bestselling books and a contributing writer to ILLUMINATION Integrated publications on Medium.com and Substack.com. Gary is a regular guest blogger of Digitalmehmet content ecosystem.
Dear Subscribers,
In our latest video, we sat down with our Board President, Gary Fretwell, to discuss his journey with Prescott Meals on Wheels and the exciting future of our organization.
A Calling to Serve
Having moved to Prescott during the pandemic, Gary was quickly introduced to Prescott Meals on Wheels. Despite a career spent consulting for over a thousand universities across the country, he notes that he has never felt an impact quite like the one he sees here. For Gary, involvement isn’t just a role—it’s a reflection of his faith and a lifelong lesson from his great-grandmother to always leave a situation better than you found it.
Reaching an Inflection Point
Prescott Meals on Wheels is currently at what Gary calls an “inflection point”. Since 1973, we have grown from serving 10 clients to over 375 daily, delivering more than 100,000 nutritious meals annually. However, since 2020, the community’s need has skyrocketed while the ability to pay has decreased.
We have currently maxed out our physical space and cannot serve more people without expanding. To meet this challenge, we are working with architects to redesign and expand our building, adding the kitchen and office space necessary to avoid developing a waitlist for essential services.
Our Strategic Vision for Growth
To truly change lives in this community, we are evolving into an organization that is both more visible and more capable. Through a new collaborative project with Western Governors University (WGU), we are developing a comprehensive marketing plan to address several key goals:
- Building Community Awareness: Many new residents are unaware of our nonprofit or the significant needs of older adults in Prescott.
- Launching a Capital Campaign: We are creating a targeted marketing toolkit and narrative to support our building expansion.+1
- Expanding Advocacy: We are developing a plan to appeal to local, state, and federal officials for increased support.
- Conducting Market Research: We are gaining deeper insights into our donors, volunteers, and the various market segments within our community.+1
“It’s not a matter of just incrementally keeping up,” Gary explains. “It’s a matter of transforming into the kind of organization that will truly change this community”.
A Short Intro to Prescott Meals on Wheels
Since 1973, Prescott Meals on Wheels has delivered uninterrupted, essential, and life-giving service to the community. Delivering over 100,000 hot, nutritious meals each year, along with informal wellness checks, while also operating a community cafe.
What began as an independent charity, Golden Age Nutrition, in 1973 with 10 clients, is now Prescott Meals on Wheels, serving over 375 clients daily. A dedicated network of over 315 active volunteers works alongside a paid staff of 15 people, with a total operational budget of $2 million.
Since 2020, the need has skyrocketed while neighbors’ ability to pay has decreased. We have maxed out our physical space, so we cannot serve more people. We have been working with an architecture team to redesign and plan the expansion of our building.
Adding more kitchen and office space will enable us to serve more meals in the community. Without expansion, we will need to develop a waitlist for essential meal deliveries.
Watch the Interview
You can watch the full interview with Gary Fretwell below to hear more about why this work is so vital to our community.
About the Author
Gary L. Fretwell is a #1 international best-selling author and a student of the “Second Mile.” By blending the rigors of neuroscience with the timeless wisdom of Stoic philosophy, Gary helps creators and leaders build a cognitive architecture of true significance.
As the author of The Magic of a Moment, Unlocking the Magic Daily Journal, and Embracing Retirement, Gary doesn’t just write about purpose — he maps the neuroscience of it. Whether he is serving as Board President for Prescott Meals on Wheels or mentoring the next generation of MBA thinkers at Western Governors University, his mission is to help you navigate the “Identity Ghost” and live an intentional life.
His upcoming book, Intentional Retirement, arrives in 2026 — a definitive field guide for those ready to move from “Output” to “Influence.”
Step into the Second Mile: Connect with Gary’s latest insights at garyfretwell.com.
The Deep Dive: For weekly strategies on cognitive clarity and the architecture of a meaningful life, subscribe to Gary’s Substack, The Wise Effort.
Follow the Journey: Read over 100 deep-dives on transition and productivity at medium.com/@gary_fretwell.
You may also check out the summaries of my stories in my guest blogs.
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