Meals + Onewheels + Harm Reduction
Reaching People Others Can't:
Our Mission:
- A healthy, ready-to-eat meal prepared with nutrition and dignity in mind.
- Water and hygiene essentials for day-to-day comfort and health.
- Naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and overdose-prevention tools that save lives.
- Resource cards linking to local shelters, medical care, & local support services.
But the real impact goes far beyond what’s inside the bag. Each kit is assembled by hand by our volunteers, many of whom have lived experience or deep ties to the community they’re serving. The process is intentional—folding in care, conversation, and collaboration at every step. Local restaurants cook the meals, small businesses donate supplies, and community members show up to pack and ride alongside us. Over time, those small moments between our riders and the people we serve helps to build trust, shift perspectives, and remind everyone involved that change doesn’t always start in a boardroom—it often starts on the street, with Meals + Onewheels + Harm Reduction.
How it Works:
Volunteers assemble “I Love You” packs at our Irvine hub.
Riders on Onewheels or other PEVs travel to nearby mapped “hot spots” across Orange County—parks, encampments, transit centers, and motels.
Riders engage compassionately, share resources, and ensure every encounter is met with dignity.
After each distribution, teams come together to share stories, log outreach data, and identify new needs for the next route. Many events end with a group ride—a chance to unwind, celebrate community, and reconnect with why we ride in the first place.
Why it Matters:
Every night in Orange County, more than 6,900 people sleep without stable housing—and that number continues to rise. For many, the lack of food is just one piece of a much larger struggle that includes mental health challenges, chronic illness, and a constant risk of overdose. The same neighborhoods with the highest rates of food insecurity—like Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Garden Grove—also report the highest number of fatal overdoses in the county. Hunger and harm often intersect, and too often, the people most at risk are the hardest to reach.
Traditional outreach efforts do incredible work, but they can’t always access the places people actually live—along flood channels, underpasses, or behind motels hidden from view. That’s where Meals on Onewheels OC comes in. With the mobility of Onewheels and electric personal vehicles, we can safely navigate tight spaces, remote areas, and nontraditional routes where vehicles or large teams can’t go. Our riders aren’t bound by parking spots or office hours; they bring care directly to the sidewalks, alleys, and encampments where it’s needed most.
But the real barrier isn’t distance—it’s stigma. Many people living unhoused or using substances avoid outreach services because of past judgment or mistreatment. By approaching on Onewheels—with a smile, a meal, and a “Hey, how’s your day?”—we open a door that might otherwise stay closed. It’s connection without conditions.
Meals on Onewheels OC proves that outreach can be fast, creative, and deeply human-centered. Each ride challenges the old idea of who outreach is for and how it should look. We’ve seen that when people feel respected, they engage, they share, they listen—and lives change. Sometimes all it takes is rolling up, showing up, and reminding someone that their life matters right now, not just when their situation improves.
Looking Ahead:
After receiving a cease-and-desist from the City of Santa Ana regarding permitting requirements, in early-2024 we made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our outreach events. It wasn’t because the need disappeared—it was because we chose to move forward responsibly. Instead of rushing back into the field, we used the time to regroup, reflect, and rebuild our program with stronger systems, safer operations, and deeper relationships with city leaders.
That pause became an opportunity. We met with city departments, clarified permitting processes, and began building partnerships that will help ensure our future rides are not only impactful—but sustainable and protected. In early 2026, Meals on Onewheels OC will return stronger than ever, expanding into new areas across Orange County while maintaining our commitment to rider safety, compliance, and community collaboration.
Our vision for the future is clear: to make harm-reduction-based meal delivery a county-wide model for compassion in motion. We’re working toward a network of partner cities, local businesses, and community volunteers who share our belief that food, dignity, and care should never be out of reach.
Every ride we take, every meal we hand out, and every conversation we start brings us closer to that goal. Meals on Onewheels OC isn’t just about serving meals—it’s about reshaping how Orange County sees and serves its most vulnerable neighbors. And as we prepare to roll back out, one thing hasn’t changed: our promise to keep showing up, meeting people where they are, and proving that empathy moves.
Contact MOO OC:
Follow us on Instagram @mealsononewheelsoc
