Connecting the dots

‘Meals on Wheels means more to me than nutritious meals. It makes me brush my teeth and get dressed because a friend will be ringing my doorbell. I say friend because all my volunteers I consider to be my friends. Love their big smiles and cheery conversations and their caring. They have given their time to help others, good people.”

This was recently received from a client of Horizons, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit social service organization serving those in need since 1960. Horizons’ mission is straightforward – to instill hope, strengthen communities, and brighten futures by providing life changing services to underserved populations.

We have three specific focus areas: nutrition access, transportation equity, and financial literacy and empowerment. We continue to work diligently to address the challenges and barriers that impact those most in need in our community. Our clients include vulnerable older adults living with disabilities, single parents working the night shift doing their best to make ends meet, and prospective homeowners and others working to improve their financial situation.

Our above Meals on Wheels client is one of nearly 1,500 clients served throughout Eastern Iowa who received one of nearly 250,000 meals delivered in our fiscal year ending June 2024. Over 90% reported feeling less isolated, with increased access to healthy foods and able to remain in their home.

NTS Neighborhood Transportation provided over 67,000 on-demand, school, and shuttle rides, with over 96% reporting increased earnings and independence. Fares were reduced to $3, which allowed one client to afford rides to Kirkwood to complete her GED classes while managing childcare costs. Another was able to save money, regain her license and purchase a vehicle.

Our Financial Wellness Center served over 650 clients, including over 94% below the 80% Area Median Income level and over 96% with financial improvements through housing counseling and financial literacy programs and services. Our goal is to allow people to purchase and remain in their home whenever possible.

While our community needs continue to increase and our statistics are strong, our organization is all about people, period. We serve our clients and eastern Iowa communities, meeting all clients wherever they are in life, always treated with dignity and respect. We nurture the soul, affirm our commitment to holistic well-being and work to improve social isolation.

New CEO and president

2024 was a year of significant transition for Horizons, with the retirement of longtime leader Mike Barnhart after 24 years of service. After a national search, Katie Oatsvall was selected as CEO and President for this organization, after serving as CEO with Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa, and a 20-year history serving communities.

2025 represents a pivotal year for Horizons, with the addition of Animeals to our organization, allowing us to provide food for furry friends, in conjunction with Meals on Wheels. We will also dig deep in our plans for Our Place, A Center for Older Adults. This will transform our facility in the Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood and provide a trusted space for older adults to gather, learn, and thrive. Cedar Rapids has not been home to a dedicated senior facility since the flood of 2008. We look forward to serving the community with this affordable, accessible option for our older adult population.

When you are ready to connect with Horizons - whether as a client, volunteer, community partner, or donor - we’re ready for you. Visit our facility, call, or email us, or visit us online at horizonsfamily.org.

Together, we can ensure that those in our community experience the respect, care, and quality of life that they deserve. Thank you for your compassion and commitment. It is your generosity that transforms lives and fosters a community where everyone can thrive.

Katie Oatsvall, is CEO and president and Jim Miller is director of development at Horizons