Manuela H. Arroyos is one of those Fort Bend County natives who has been making a difference in the community for most of her life, especially for those who helped shape our world, our senior citizens.

Arroyos has been at the helm of Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, located in Rosenberg, Texas and serving Fort Bend and Waller Counties, for the past eleven years, where she had lead the organization from one of being close to shutting its doors when she took the CEO's chair to one of the most prominent non-profits in Fort Bend and Waller Counties. Through her leadership skills she has continued to develop new programs, services, marketing programs, and others, all of which enhance the lives of senior citizens.  

Prior to her position with Fort Bend Seniors, she served as Fort Bend County executive director for Health and Human Services where she was instrumental in implementing a prescription program for the elderly and restructuring the indigent health care program. She has also served on a number of boards in Fort Bend County such as the Fort Bend Child Advocacy Advisory Board, South Texas Girl Scout Council, Fort Bend County Women’s Center Executive Board of Directors and others.

Manuela received her Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State; Certification for Executive Managers from Rice-University Graduate School of Management where she received a full scholarship, Leadership Excellence for Non-Profits also through Rice and the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. One of many honors she has received include being appointed as Delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging to help develop policy for the aging population for the next 10 years and was nominee for Fort Bend Women of the Year 2003 and others.

Arroyos brought her experience of 25 years of experience, knowledge and sound leadership to the organization to lead a staff of 22+ employees, which has changed the face of senior hunger in the community.  Her sound financial practices and strategic plans, hiring practices and expectations from staff along with working with an excellent Board of Directors has brought the organization in to a positive financial status and with a reserve in case of emergencies. Yet, even when the organization hit solid ground, she has continued to look for new avenues to improve services, meet clients’ needs and continue developing staff, and preparing for the organization’s future.

Providing services, programs and meals to the elderly has always been close to Arroyos heart, not only from personal experiences with her own parents and grandparents but also due to the knowledge and understanding that the generation now being served on the MOW program, are the ones who have shaped our world, and it is with gratitude that she now serves this generation.

Arroyos has been married for over 16 years, and family is very important to her. Watching her daughter grow, marry and have a child of her own is her pride and joy. Yet, ask her about her grand-daughter who recently turned three and you will see the smile spread across her face. To say the least, she is a proud and beaming grandmother and her grand-daughter has stolen her heart.

Arroyos is known for her values which she continues to instill in her staff and radiates wherever she goes. Those values are integrity, compassion, dedication, accountability, respect and excellence in all that she does, either working within the community, with family and friends or within the organization.

Serving on the MOWAT Board is not only an honor but is also an opportunity to support all of the Meals on Wheels programs in Texas. Arroyos understands that in working together as a team of MOWAT, all senior citizens in Texas will be able to receive the care, programs and services needed to enhance their golden years. It is also an opportunity to create change and support through State legislation, and an opportunity to be part of the process in finding our way on a positive path into the future. MOWAT is also a support group of caring leaders who face the same challenges on a daily basis within their organizations of meeting the needs of senior citizens, and together, as a collective group, we are able to find answers, even if it means carving new roads in unexplored lands.