MEALS ON WHEELS, ETC. JOINS IN THE MONTH-LONG MARCH FOR MEALS CELEBRATION WITH COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE
Support will help to fight senior hunger and isolation in Seminole County AMID THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND
Sanford, Florida – February 26, 2021 – Meals on Wheels, Etc. announced today that it will be participating in the 19th annual March for Meals – a month-long, nationwide celebration of Meals on Wheels and our senior neighbors who rely on this essential service to remain healthy and independent at home, now even more so amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meals on Wheels, Etc.’s celebration will include various activities throughout the month of March, including a virtual walk and an on-line benefit auction.
“In the last year, we have experienced an increase in the demand for our services in Seminole County,” said Sherry Fincher, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels, Etc. “We have been in awe of the outpouring of support, and there’s still much we can do to ensure everyone in need of our vital lifeline can benefit from being well-nourished and more connected to our community through this challenging time and beyond.”
The annual March for Meals celebration commemorates the historic day in March of 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 to include a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, community-based Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.
“The pandemic has introduced many of us to the newfound and harsh realities of food insecurity and social isolation – something that far too many seniors experience as their daily norm. More than ever, we must rally around our essential community-based programs that serve as lifelines to a growing number of people in need, to enable their own long-term vitality,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “Even when we make it through this unprecedented time in our nation’s history, there will still be millions of vulnerable older adults who will rely on that familiar knock on the door that provides peace of mind and hope beyond the meal itself. Please join us in celebrating the power and importance of Meals on Wheels this March and always.”
For more information on how you can volunteer or learn about our events, visit www.mealsetc.org or text MEALSETC to 56512 to subscribe to our new mobile platform. If you are interested in donating an item for the auction or sponsor a door prize for the walk, please email Dawn Garrison, Community Relations Coordinator at dgarrison@mealsetc.org.
About Meals on Wheels, Etc.:
Our mission at Meals on Wheels, Etc. is to enhance the quality of life for young and old by providing appetizing and nutritious meals as well as support services for seniors which enable them to maintain their independence and dignity.
Our fresh, high-quality and nutritious meals are prepared daily in our own kitchen and last year we served 202,774 meals to our clients. In addition to meals, we also provided a variety of services which included: 17,162 transportation trips, 237 hours of homemaking services, 1,524 hours of screening and assessments, 371 hours of home improvement and chore services, assisted 88 seniors though the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program and weatherized 24 homes.