From the CEO - Overview Letter from Our 2008 Annual Report

We recently published our Annual Report for 2008. Here is the text of the letter from CEO Teresa Barry that appeared in the report:

As I reflect back on 2008, I do so with a sense of gratitude and pride. Gratitude, because so many people in the community, including our many dedicated volunteers, enthusiastically supported the work of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. And pride, because of the way our staff members rose to the challenges we faced.

The year was ushered in by the “Healthcare Heroes for Nutrition” campaign, sponsored by Aultman Hospital and AultCare. More than 100 of their employees volunteered in January to deliver meals, raising awareness of the nutritional needs of our homebound neighbors while placing the spotlight on our agency and its services.

In March, we participated in the national “March for Meals/Mayors for Meals” campaign, which has its roots right here in Stark and Wayne counties. Seven years earlier we had asked area mayors to spend a morning delivering meals in their communities. The Meals On Wheels Association of America liked the idea so much, it became a nationwide program that now has more than 1,000 mayors participating annually. Locally, 14 mayors from the two-county area delivered meals. And, during the month-long campaign, 47 employees from the Timken Company volunteered to deliver meals for us.

Summer brought with it our annual “Heroes Against Hunger” program. During July and August, 16 police and fire chiefs from area cities and townships pitched in to deliver meals to our homebound neighbors.

Combine all of the above efforts with the ongoing, selfless dedication of more than 300 regular volunteers, and you can understand why we are so grateful for the support we receive.

There were other significant highlights during the year as well. In September, we welcomed Cat Cora of The Food Network’s “Iron Chef America,” who dazzled an audience of 230 guests with an evening of excellent cuisine and entertainment at the Kent State Stark Professional Education & Conference Center. She also spent a morning at our administrative office building, taking the time to tour our commissary and meet our staff before participating in deliveries to several of our clients in Massillon. Chef Cora’s weekend visit also included a book signing event at Border’s on The Strip in North Canton.

At year’s end we conducted our annual pet food drive as part of the “Season of Suppers” campaign, sponsored by the Banfield Charitable Trust. We expanded to 11 collection sites in the area and received more than 5,500 pounds of dog and cat food, which was then distributed to our clients with pets. The drive was such an overwhelming success that we are now prepared to make our collection efforts a year-round program.

Personally, I assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Meals On Wheels Association of America in August. During my two-year term I will have the opportunity to work closely with officials and legislators in the nation’s capitol, while simultaneously drawing greater attention to the work we are doing locally at Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. It is a testimony to our agency that I have been given this privilege to serve in such a visible and important role, and I am humbled by the opportunity and determined to make a difference.

I spoke earlier of how proud I am of our staff. From our office and commissary personnel to the employees at each of our locations in Stark and Wayne counties, our staff members continue to do more with less. The cost of the two commodities essential to our mission – food and fuel – fluctuated wildly during 2008, making it essential for us to control spending and, in some cases, reduce employee hours or positions. Everyone with the agency assumed a greater work load, and, in so doing, demonstrated tremendous resourcefulness and skill.

It was a challenging year, but also a rewarding one. We remain dedicated to nourishing and enriching the lives of individuals of all ages by providing essential services that promote independent living and dignity. We are deeply indebted to all those who join us in that cause.

Teresa Barry
CEO

Garden Project at Jail Benefits Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties

An innovative project at the Stark County Jail will result in an educational opportunity for inmates and a long-term benefit for the clients of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

Under the guidance of Master Gardener volunteers from the OSU Extension, Stark County office in Massillon and the Stark County Farm Bureau, non-violent inmates at the jail are planting a garden to grow vegetables such as beans, peppers, squash, zucchini, tomatoes and radishes. As the produce is harvested it will be delivered to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties in Massillon, where it will be used in meals prepared for their clients.

"This program utilizes existing land and resources to benefit many people," said Maureen Austin, Ph.D., extension educator for agriculture and natural resources at OSU Extension, Stark County. "Trustees will grow the vegetables, and in the process more people will have a greater understanding of where food comes from. In particular, it will shine a light on Stark County agriculture, which is abundant."

Vegetables from the garden will become part of the meals served to Meals On Wheels clients. "We prepare our meals daily in our on-site commissary," said Nora Logsdon, program manager and dietician for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. "Fresh ingredients are essential to our dishes, and the harvest from the garden project will enable us to serve even more people."

The garden measures 30 feet by 90 feet and is located in a fenced area on the west side of the jail, which is located at 4500 Atlantic Boulevard N.E. in Canton. Up to five supervised inmates will work in the garden at any given time for up to two hours a shift, according to Captain Laura Stewart-Johnson of the Stark County Sheriff's Office.

"Our goal is to provide an education for the inmates and be able to give back to the community," said Stewart-Johnson. "The fact that it doesn't cost us or the taxpayers anything is a real plus.

"In addition to the support of the OSU Extension, Stark County office, financial assistance and equipment for the project are being provided by the Stark County Farm Bureau and Hartville Hardware.

"This is an exceptional use of people, land and natural resources," said Nick Kennedy, organization director for the Ohio Farm Bureau for Columbiana, Portage, Stark and Summit counties. "It's a great example of the positive impact agriculture has on the community, and we're proud to support the program."

College Student Donates Cash Award to MOWSW

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties was the surprise recipient of a $150 gift thanks to the service and generosity of a Wayne County college student.

Rebecca Ruff, a senior sociology major at The College of Wooster, was one of two recipients of the 2009 J. Howard Morris and Josephine L. Morris Volunteer Service Award. It is presented annually by the Wooster Volunteer Network and goes to the two students who display the greatest commitment, reliability and initiative toward volunteer service.

Rebecca, who hails from Philadelphia, Pa., was recognized for her volunteer efforts at the Ida Sue School in Wooster, as well as her service on the Wooster Volunteer Network executive board. She received a $150 cash award to donate to the charity of her choice, and she designated Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties (MOWSW).

According to Rebecca, she selected Meals On Wheels because her grandmother had been a volunteer in the 1950s, delivering meals in Butler County, Pa. Rebecca said her grandmother became a client and received home meal delivery in her later years.

MOWSW Volunteer Coordinator Mary Marshall (on the right in the photo, with Rebecca), attended a May 8 ceremony at the college to accept the donation on the agency’s behalf.

Saying 'Thanks' to Our Local Wal-Mart Friends

In March, Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties received a $10,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation and Meals On Wheels Association of America. The grant will be used to start a new catering business that will generate revenue for the agency. We plan to kick things off with an event in September.

To show our appreciation for Wal-Mart's support, we invited area store representatives to our office for lunch to explain the grant and the plans for our business. Five representatives from Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the region joined Teresa Barry, CEO, Nora Logsdon, program manager and dietitian, and Tom Delamater, PR administrator, at a luncheon May 12 in our conference room.

Our guests were treated to a menu that included pepperoni chicken, beef braciole, twice-baked potatoes, pasta & vegetable pesto, asparagus tips with hollandaise sauce, glazed carrot fingers, spinach salad with bacon dressing, and assorted desserts and beverages. Sonny Sonnhalter, commissary manager, explained each of the dishes as examples of selections that might appear on the catering business's menu, which is still in the planning stages. Terri, Nora and Tom followed with an overview of the agency and additional long-range plans for the catering business. Afterward, Terri and Nora took the group on a tour of the commissary.

We're grateful for partners like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club and value our relationship with their local representatives in the region. We look forward to working together with them to further the goals and mission of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

May is Older Americans Month

In 1963, there were only about 17 million Americans who had reached their 65th birthday -- about nine percent of the nation’s population. One third of those, almost 6 million, lived in poverty. There were few programs designed to meet their needs.

That began to change when President John F. Kennedy designated May as “Senior Citizens Month.” The name was changed to “Older Americans Month” in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. It’s the time each year when special attention is called to the issues that affect older adults -- with the goal of helping them improve their quality of life.

Today, there are more than 36 million Americans age 65 and older -- about 12 percent of the population. By 2030, it is estimated that number will grow to represent 20 percent of the population.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (http://www.mowaa.org/) is dedicated to the mission of eliminating senior hunger in our country. Nearly 40 percent of deaths in America can be attributed to poor health habits, including poor eating habits. Meals On Wheels programs across the United States provide vital services for homebound individuals who are nutritionally at risk.

In Stark and Wayne counties, the number of seniors outpaces the national figures. According to the 2007 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Stark County was 378,614, of which 15.5 percent were age 65 and above. In Wayne County, 13.3 percent of the 113,554 residents were 65 and older.

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties serves as many as 2,000 meals a day to homebound individuals of all ages, but our core demographic group is seniors in the two-county area – and, as the numbers reveal, it’s a larger proportion of the population than the national average. In addition, we offer congregate dining at 14 of our sites. People age 60 and over who can access transportation are able to dine in a social setting. Studies have shown that engaging in social activities within the community can greatly improve mental health.

Research has also demonstrated a strong relationship between volunteering and mental health, including improved mental and physical health, greater life satisfaction, lower rates of depression and lower mortality rates. The majority of volunteers with Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties are seniors, and we applaud them for their dedication and service. We wouldn’t be able to fulfill our mission without them.

We are pleased to join with all Americans in saluting our seniors during Older Americans Month 2009.

For more information about Older Americans Month: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/004210.html

See a report on Older Americans at the Meals On Wheels Association of America website: http://www.mowaa.org/Document.Doc?id=69