Massillon Senior Center Chorus Brightens Day for Local MOW Clients

Since 1960, the Massillon Senior Center has sponsored a choral group that performs a number of programs throughout the year. But one activity stands out above the others for clients of Meals On Wheels of Stark and Wayne Counties.

The Jan. 26 edition of The Independent, the daily newspaper here, featured a story about one of the chorus's annual tradition -- creating gift bags for Massillon-area Meals On Wheels clients.

The chorus calls it "Christmas in January." It's a way to extend holiday cheer to fellow seniors who are a little less fortunate, with gifts of fruit, trinkets, cards and other items intended to brighten the day for our clients.

Our thanks to director Nancy Johnson and all of the members of the senior center chorus for their thoughtfulness, and their support of our clients.

Photo courtesy of The Independent

WKYC-Ch. 3 Airs Story On Pet Food, Royal Canin Donation

Amanda Barren's report on our pet food program and the Royal Canin donation aired this morning on "Channel 3 News Today," the morning news program of WKYC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland.

Amanda interviewed CEO Teresa Barry, along with client Wilma Dillon and volunteer David Cottrill.

You can access the web story and the video at the WKYC website.

Thanks to the Students of Sauder Elementary!

Once again, students at Sauder Elementary School in Jackson Township collected pet food during the holidays to contribute to the Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties pet food drive.

The students collected about 300 pounds of dog and cat food this year. It was the third consecutive year Sauder students have participated, and in that time they've collected more than 1,000 pounds of pet food.

Pictured with this year's donation are Jackson students (from left) Reed Bailey, McKenzie Quartz, Schuyler Crumpler and Peyton Crumpler. The collection effort is coordinated by Mrs. Koch, the librarian at Sauder.

Every year we are inspired by the generosity of the Stark and Wayne communities during our holiday pet food drive. We offer a big "thank you" to the students at Sauder, who continue to demonstrate their concern for the less fortunate in our area.

Winter 2011 Edition of Our Volunteer Bulletin

Here's the Winter 2011 edition of our volunteer bulletin, published earlier in January. Click on the image below for a larger version.

CEO Teresa Barry Tapes Segment for 'Golden Opportunities' TV Show

Teresa Barry, CEO of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, visited the studios of WKYC-Ch. 3 in Cleveland on Jan. 21 to tape a segment of the "Golden Opportunities" television program.

The show covers topics and issues important to seniors and is hosted by Armand Budish, an attorney and current minority leader of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Terri was booked on the program after her guest column in the Canton Repository, which was published on June 27, 2010, drew attention to the increasing number of retirees brought on by the aging baby boomer generation, and the potential strain that will cause on social service and government entitlement programs.

This is Terri's second appearance on "Golden Opportunities." She was previously a guest on an episode that aired in February 2009.

The "Golden Opportunities" program featuring the segment with Terri is scheduled to air Sunday, Jan. 30, at 11:30 a.m. on WKYC-TV, Channel 3, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland.

WKYC-Ch. 3 Visits to Prep for Story On Pet Food Drive

Amanda Barren, a news correspondent for NBC affiliate WKYC-Ch. 3 in Cleveland, visited Massillon on Jan. 22 to conduct interviews and videotape footage for a report on this year's record-setting pet food drive at Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

Amanda took interest in the story following Royal Canin's recent donation of 36 pallets of dog food, which, together with cat food that has been purchased with a grant from the Doris Day Animal Foundation, will enable us to provide food for our clients' pets throughout 2011.

Amanda interviewed CEO Teresa Barry, along with one of our clients and David Cottrill, a volunteer who delivers meals every Friday out of our Massillon facility.

This is the third time in less than a year that a WKYC news crew has visited Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties to produce a report for their newscasts. Previous stories featured the garden project at the Stark County jail, and the effect that retirees from the baby boom generation will have on health care and entitlement programs over the next 20 years.

Amanda's report on the pet food drive is scheduled to appear Wednesday, Jan. 26 (note: that's an updated schedule) on Channel 3 News Today, which airs daily from 5 to 7 a.m.

Support Meals On Wheels With the Fishers Foods Rewards Card

Our friends and neighbors can support Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties by using your Fishers Rewards Card every time you shop at any of the seven Fishers Foods locations in Stark County.

The new Fishers Community Rewards program starts on Wednesday, Jan. 19, and runs through Sunday, April 17. All you have to do is designate Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties as your charity of choice, and every time you use your Rewards Card at Fishers, 1% of your purchase will be donated back to Meals On Wheels.

You'll need to designate us as your preferred charity first. You can do it online at http://www.fishersfoods.com/ or by phone at 1-888-866-9186.

If you don't have a Rewards Card, you can apply for one online at the Fishers web site.

There is no cost to you for designating Meals On Wheels as your preferred charity, and doing so will not affect the Rewards Points you earn by shopping at Fishers.

Important: We'll need at least 50 cardholders to designate us as their preferred charity in order for the program to generate funds for Meals On Wheels, so please register now and encourage other loyal Fishers shoppers to do the same.

Here are the Fishers locations in Stark County:

• Corner of Fulton Drive and Frank Ave., Jackson Township
• Corner of Cleveland Ave. & 44th St. NW, Plain Township
• N. Cleveland Ave. (N. of Applegrove), North Canton
• Cherry Ave. north of 12th St. in Canton
• Harrison Ave., just north of Rt. 30, in Canton
• West Tuscarawas in Perry Township (near Canton Centre Mall)
• Lincoln Way E. in Massillon

Register your card today on behalf of Meals On Wheels of Stark County, and keep shopping at Fishers!

Latest Census Figures Show Largest Poverty Increase in Elderly Population

A new formula used by the U.S. Census Bureau, which takes into account out-of-pocket medical expenses, indicates that 16 percent of Americans age 65 or older -- one in six -- are living in poverty.

Even Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits can’t offset the devastating financial impact being felt by our nation's seniors.

An Associated Press report can be found here with more details about the Census Bureau figures.

At Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, helping our area's seniors is something we do every day, not only through our home delivery program but also through our congregate dining sites throughout the region.

We take the challenges being faced by seniors seriously, and are here to help. Call us at 330-832-7220 to learn more about our services and how they can benefit you, or your loved one.

From Mexican Casserole to Sweet & Sour Chicken, January's Menu Is Sure to Be a Hit

Celebrate the New Year with a delicious selection of entrees! The January menu is available; click on the image below to see a larger version.