Lake Monticello News

October 1, 2024

Wahoo BBQ: The Background Partner for Meals on Wheels Deliveries

When Lake Monticello-native siblings Howie and Erica Brown took over the old Dogwood location outside the Slice Gate three years ago to create Wahoo BBQ, one of the contract stipulations was that it provide food to Fluvanna County Meals on Wheels (MOW).

They took the commitment to heart, even though they initially didn’t know they would be paid for their efforts. Their grandmother had MOW deliveries for the last few years of her life and the siblings have fond memories of the food – Howie’s favorite was the squash – she sometimes set aside for them.

Then-Fluvanna County MOW Executive Director Lisa Himes set the Browns straight on payment and both sides have been happy with the arrangement ever since.

Erica Brown says, “we love giving back to the community that’s given so much to us.” Howie adds that working with MOW, “is not about the money to us.” On the MOW side, Executive Director Heather Marshall said, “We’re very happy with Wahoo – they are easy to work with and provide great quality food. Our clients love the food and the variety. Howie and his staff are a great asset to the community.”

Interestingly, the menu rarely includes BBQ. Howie plans the menus according to the federal government’s Older Americans Act Nutrition Guidelines. Last month’s entrée offerings included everything from fish filet, and hot dogs or hamburgers, to Florentine chicken. The Browns recently started offering garden salad, which Marshall says has been very popular with MOW clients.

All food is prepared in Wahoo’s kitchen and delivered to the MOW location at Crofton Plaza five days a week, where it is individually packaged for delivery to clients.

In other MOW news, Marshall says the organization is gearing up their end-of-year appeal. She is very pleased and grateful to work in a community that supports the MOW mission so well, but also requests that those who wish to donate electronically use the Fluco-specific website https://www.mealsonwheelsfluvanna.org/.

By Tricia Callahan