Continuing the Mission: The Hickman Teams Up with Meals on Wheels to Serve Our Community

May 28, 2025

A Foundation Rooted in Quaker Values

When it comes to senior living, one of the many things that sets The Hickman apart from other communities of its kind is its Quaker foundation. Our Quaker roots and values are the blueprint for what we do and how we do it, a reminder that we hold ourselves to the highest of standards when caring for our residents and each other.

We call those values the Quaker Testimonies or SPICES—short for Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship—and we are continually looking for new ways to implement them both within our walls and beyond our front door.

A Natural Partnership with Meals on Wheels

It’s what recently led us to partner with Meals on Wheels of Chester County (MOWCC), an organization whose mission is “to provide nutritious meals and personal interaction to homebound adults to help them live independently in their own homes.” In talking to both The Hickman’s Director of Culinary Services, Rodney Sykes, and MOWCC’s Director, Jeanie Purcell, it’s hard to say who’s more excited about the venture!

Meals on Wheels CC covers part of the county (some communities in the eastern side of the county are served by their sister program, Main Line Meals on Wheels).

By the Numbers

In the fiscal year 2023–2024, MOWCC:

• Served a total of 102,044 meals

• Reached over 800 people, the majority of whom were seniors over the age of 60

Since The Hickman began working with them in August of 2022, MOWCC has been able to serve 104 new clients. On average, The Hickman contributes about 30 meals daily, Monday through Friday. Last year that amounted to over 6,000 meals!

The Hickman covers three routes in the Goshenville area, which include Hershey’s Mill adult community.

Meeting Standards with Every Meal

“All meals must meet specific state-mandated guidelines,” says Purcell, “which promote better health and well-being for older individuals through nutrition.”

As Sykes explains, “We already meet those criteria on a daily basis for our current resident population. We are also lucky enough to have our own in-house registered dietician, Nicholas Harty, on staff.”

Nonetheless, an external registered dietician reviews each meal on the menu at The Hickman and visits on-site twice annually for continued monitoring.

A Team Effort with Heart

Sykes and his dining team prepare three home-cooked meals each day for their 70+ residents in addition to an extra 30 for their Meals on Wheels route. So, how do they do it? And why? In short, it takes a lot of teamwork and an even bigger heart for serving others.

“When the question was asked if we could manage this opportunity, it was a no-brainer,” says Sykes. “Logistically, we choose from what we are already serving our residents during our afternoon meal and then prepare a larger amount. The Chefs do have a tighter schedule, as they are firing off items at different times, but as far as preparation, it is not as taxing when we remain proactive.”

Sykes has nothing but praise for his team and their willingness to take on this endeavor:

“I am thankful to have a department full of caring individuals who truly enjoy providing for our seniors in need. This opportunity fits in with our mission [at The Hickman] and we all feel good knowing we are making a difference in people’s lives.”

High Praise and Community Impact

In turn, Purcell reflects that praise right back:

“Rodney Sykes at The Hickman has been an awesome partner in serving our homebound seniors in West Chester,” she says. “He truly cares about our mission to serve those vulnerable seniors in need, and he goes above and beyond when we have a special request. He is a joy to work with.”

The impact of the MOWCC and The Hickman partnership has been mutually profound for each organization.

Purcell notes the “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from their recipients about the delicious meals provided by Sykes and his team. They appreciate the service, she says, as it helps them stay in their homes and have one nutritious meal a day that they are unable to prepare for themselves.

Setting a New Standard

Sykes has also been contacted by Meals on Wheels and businesses who provide for their other routes, seeking assistance with logistics and meal suggestions.

“It seems we are setting a standard,” he says.

However, according to Sykes, the highest compliment is seeing names come off the MOWCC client list and, in turn, show up on the resident move-in list at The Hickman.

Sharing Compassion, One Meal at a Time

Through our partnership with MOWCC, we’re sharing a little bit of our caring and compassionate community at The Hickman with our senior West Chester neighbors in need—one dish at a time.