Dream Big With Us

Before Prom, we asked our team one question: If money and time weren’t limiting factors, what would you love to see Coal Creek Meals on Wheels doing that we don’t currently have the resources to do? We told them to dream big, and they did.

What stayed with us most was the care behind every answer. Each dream was thoughtful, deeply rooted in this work, and full of love for the neighbors and communities we serve. You could feel how much time our team had spent noticing needs, imagining possibilities, and thinking about what more care could look like.

Our team imagined a food truck returning to the same community spaces each week, so our unhoused neighbors would always know when and where they could find a meal. They dreamed of a mobile pantry stocked with fresh produce and everyday staples, and a food truck that could prepare made-to-order meals right at a neighbor’s home. They also imagined meal support at Title I schools, with meals sent home with students for the weekend and evening pickup available for families on their way home from work.

They envisioned a community garden, partnerships with local farms, more fresh and organic ingredients, and a true farm-to-door model. They also dreamed of preserving seasonal produce at its freshest, so our neighbors could enjoy it throughout the year.

We also imagined more ways to care for our neighbors beyond the meals we provide. A team of social workers checking in regularly, helping connect neighbors with resources and keeping families and caregivers informed. They also dreamed of in-home veterinary care, mobile grooming, and monthly boxes of treats and toys for the pets who bring so much comfort and companionship.

There were big kitchen dreams, too: more space, multiple locations, and the ability to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner while reaching more communities across Colorado. Our team imagined kitchens working toward zero food waste and zero plastic waste, with enough time and hands to bring fresh, homemade desserts back to the Café each day.

Other dreams were about opportunity and belonging. One was a hands-on cooking program for neighbors who have faced barriers to employment, giving them kitchen experience, new skills, and a strong reference. Another was creating welcoming places to gather: a community coffee shop, along with warm community hubs and shelters throughout the areas we serve where neighbors could find food, resources, and somewhere to belong.

Running through so many of these dreams was the same hope: care without boundaries. To someday have the resources to serve any neighbor who needs us, regardless of their address, and to reach farther while holding onto the kindness and personal care at the heart of this work.

We know these are big dreams, and we are incredibly grateful for everything our community already makes possible. Our organization began in 1972 because neighbors saw a need and chose to show up for one another. So much of what we do today once started as an idea of what could be possible.

That feels like a good reason to keep dreaming.

So we’d love to ask you the same question: If money and time weren’t limiting factors, what would you love to see Coal Creek Meals on Wheels doing for our community?

Scroll down and leave a comment below. We’d love to hear your dreams, too.