Eleven Mayors Deliver!

Today marked the annual Mayors For Meals event nationwide, and Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties celebrated as 11 mayors from the two-county area offered their support.

Canton Mayor William Healy (pictured, with site coordinator Anita Vance), delivered in Canton from our location at Mayfield Manor Apartments. Mayor Healy has been supportive of other initiatives for our agency, including our month-long campaign every January that features employee volunteers from AultCare and the Aultman Health Foundation.

Other participating mayors during Mayors for Meals 2010 were:

Creston: Bill Armentrout

Doylestown: Terry Lindeman

Hartville: Ed Tucker

Louisville: Pat Fallot

Magnolia: Bob Leach

Navarre: Bob Benson

Orrville: Dave Handwerk

Rittman: Bill Robertson

Shreve: Jacki Chamberlain

Waynesburg: Ken Flesher

Participating mayors teamed with volunteers at their local sites to deliver meals to clients. The 11 who assisted locally are among a group of mayors nationwide that has exceeded more than 1,000 each of the past two years.

Thanks to our civic leaders in Stark and Wayne counties for being so civic-minded, and for reaching out to those in need.

Eleven Mayors Scheduled to Deliver During 'Mayors For Meals' March 24

The annual Mayors For Meals event, part of the national March For Meals campaign during the month of March, takes place on Wednesday, March 24.

Eleven mayors from Stark and Wayne counties are scheduled to deliver meals to our clients beginning at 10:45 that morning.

Mayors deliver in their local communities and are paired with volunteer drivers from their respective sites.

Meals On Wheels Association of America began a nationwide effort in 2006 to include city officials across the country in their local meal delivery programs. More than 1,000 mayors in the U.S. have participated in Mayors For Meals each of the last two years.

We're grateful for the enthusiastic support of so many mayors in the Stark and Wayne counties area.

'March For Meals' Puts Spotlight On What We Do

During the month of March, Meals On Wheels programs across the country participate in "March For Meals," an annual awareness campaign that highlights volunteering and other ways that community members can contribute to their local agency.

Part of the campaign is the annual "Mayors For Meals." Local programs invite mayors in the area to deliver meals to clients in their communities. More than 1,000 mayors participated nationwide in 2009, with about a dozen of those assisting Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

This year's "Mayors For Meals" event will take place on Wednesday, March 24.

You can get involved locally during March by volunteering to deliver meals once a week, or by providing a financial gift. Right now we are in need of a new stackable oven for our commissary, and a new delivery truck to replace one that broke down late last year. Both items are essential for us to properly serve our clients in the two-county area.

During the month of March, we hope that you'll consider becoming involved with Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

Will You Take the Pledge to End Senior Hunger in America?

A groundbreaking research study found that, as of 2007, there were nearly 6 million seniors facing the threat of hunger. It is the goal of the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) to match that number with 6 million people who are willing to stand up and pledge to do what it takes to end senior hunger.

That's why MOWAA is asking you to "Take the Pledge to End Senior Hunger" with just a couple of clicks on their website.

By taking this pledge you are committing to help Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties and MOWAA end senior hunger by 2020. You can be a leader in this national movement by volunteering to help deliver meals, generating awareness about the problem of senior hunger in America, making a donation, or by doing anything else that you can to provide the next meal “so no senior goes hungry.”®

Click here to take the pledge and show your support. To volunteer or donate locally, contact us at 330-832-7220.

Walmart Foundation Grant to Help With New Truck Purchase

The Meals On Wheels Association, in conjunction with the Walmart Foundation, has selected Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties as one of 147 nationwide recipients of a Walmart Foundation Impact Grant.

The grants will provide Meals On Wheels programs with essential items such as stoves, refrigerators, freezers, delivery vehicles, and other equipment so they can continue providing meals to homebound seniors and other seniors in need.

Locally, we were awarded $15,000, the maximum amount available under the program, toward the purchase of a new delivery truck. We welcome additional donations from corporations and individuals, as the balance of the purchase is about $30,000.

We appreciate the support of the Walmart Foundation and the Meals On Wheels Association of America toward our mission of helping our homebound neighbors live independent lives through proper nutrition.