Back (L-R): Chase Mizell, Raina Massand, Eva Marcille, Susan BeenFront (L-R): Caroline Jeffords, D’Anne Cagle-Heckert
Meals On Wheels Atlanta will host its 38th annual A Meal to Remember gala on November 6, 2026. The event will take place at The St. Regis Atlanta. This year’s theme is “Hope in Full Bloom.”
The nonprofit will welcome community leaders, celebrated chefs and music performers. Together, they will raise funds to fight senior hunger and social isolation across Atlanta.
The announcement follows a successful September for the organization. Meals On Wheels Atlanta raised more than $65,000 through its ninth annual Power Luncheon and inaugural Art for Meals event. As a result, the funds will provide approximately 9,200 meals.
Eva Marcille and community leaders support the gala
The 2026 A Meal to Remember gala will feature community leaders and supporters working to advance Meals On Wheels Atlanta’s mission.
Susan Been, D’Anne Cagle-Heckert and Caroline Jeffords will serve as co-chairs. Eva Marcille, Raina Massand and Chase Mizell will join them as legacy co-chairs.
The event’s theme, “Hope in Full Bloom,” highlights the difference that community support can make in the lives of older adults. Through food deliveries, volunteer service and donations, the organization aims to help seniors maintain their independence and build meaningful connections.
“A meal can be the beginning of something much bigger, from greater independence to a meaningful connection with someone who cares,” says Charlene Crusoe-Ingram, CEO of Meals On Wheels Atlanta.
Crusoe-Ingram added that the annual gala gives Atlanta residents an opportunity to support older adults and help ensure they receive the nourishment and care they need at home.
Top Atlanta chefs prepare a special culinary experience
Food will take center stage at the fundraising event, with an acclaimed lineup of chefs preparing the evening’s culinary offerings.
The participating chefs include Chris Hall of Unsukay Restaurants, Robert Gerstenecker and Christopher Kelly of Meals On Wheels Atlanta, Linton Hopkins of Hopkins & Company, and Jessica McKinney of Canoe.
Guests will also enjoy wine and auction experiences as they support the nonprofit’s programs for older adults.
The gala will recognize Dwayne and Valerie Williams as the organization’s 2026 Volunteers of the Year. The recognition honors their dedication to Meals On Wheels Atlanta and the seniors who benefit from its services.
MaKenzie Thomas and Spelman College Glee Club to perform
Music will also play a major role in the evening’s program.
MaKenzie Thomas, a semifinalist on Season 15 of NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform with a live band. She has attracted millions of views through her vocal performances and built an audience of more than 3 million followers across Instagram and TikTok.
Thomas will also join the Spelman College Glee Club for a special collaborative performance created for the gala.
The performance will add a musical highlight to an evening focused on community support and the needs of Atlanta’s older residents.
Meals On Wheels Atlanta builds on record fundraising
The upcoming gala follows a record-breaking 2025 event that raised $1.3 million, the highest total in the fundraiser’s history. More than 300 guests attended last year’s gathering to support seniors experiencing food insecurity and social isolation.
Founded in 1965, Meals On Wheels Atlanta has delivered more than six million meals throughout the Atlanta area. The organization provides personalized and therapeutic home-delivered meals, family-style meals, home repair services, an emergency food pantry and a pet pantry.
These services help older adults remain in their homes while accessing food and other essential support.
The nonprofit receives 97% of its annual funding from private donations. To support its mission, it also operates social enterprises, including 1705WEST, an event venue, and Purposeful Gourmet Foods. Proceeds from both businesses benefit its meals program.
Meals On Wheels Atlanta will continue its 2026 fundraising efforts with the 26th annual Golf Classic in October, followed by A Meal to Remember in November.
Tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities for the November 6 gala are available through the official A Meal to Remember ticket page.
Source: Meals On Wheels Atlanta press release provided in the brief.
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