Excelsior Springs Fire Department joins Meals & a Visit Program to boost home safety for meal recipients

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — Excelsior Springs’ Meals & a Visit Program (MVP), a home-delivered meal service housed at the Excelsior Springs Parks, Recreation and Community Center, is adding a new layer of support for homebound residents through a partnership with the Excelsior Springs Fire Department.

Under the collaboration, firefighters will help MVP participants with smoke detector installation and maintenance, home safety checks, fire safety education, and data tracking and reporting. City leaders said the effort is intended to improve both day-to-day safety and overall well-being for residents who receive meals at home.

“This partnership allows us to serve our community in a proactive way and ensure those receiving meals also have working smoke detectors and basic home safety support,” Fire Chief Joe Maddick said in a statement.

Parks, Recreation, and Community Center Director Nate Williams said the program currently serves 19 residents and depends on multiple community partners to keep meals and support services moving.

“It takes many partners to provide meals and support to the 19 residents currently enrolled, and we are grateful for the Fire Department’s and other partners’ involvement,” Williams said.

City Manager Molly McGovern said the partnership helps residents meet multiple needs at once, including nutrition, safety, and social connection, and supports the goal of helping participants remain safe and independent in their homes.

Fire department personnel will also carry information about home-delivered meal options to share with residents and families, which organizers hope will expand awareness of the program.

For more information about MVP or home-delivered meal options, residents can contact MVP Coordinator Tammy Murphy at MVP@es-prcc.com. Those interested in donating or volunteering can visit ESGIVES.COM.