Our Thanks to the Massillon Rotary Foundation for Their Support

The Massillon Rotary Foundation Trust has awarded a grant to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties to help purchase a number of small equipment items.

The foundation board approved a request for $2,000 for the purchase of 50 new Rubbermaid coolers, along with a number of smallware items for the commissary. The coolers will be used by volunteers in the Massillon area for meal deliveries to clients.

Teresa Barry, CEO of Meals On Wheels, attended the Rotary's March 31 meeting to receive the grant check.

The trust provides grants, primarily for health and wellness purposes, to organizations that serve the Massillon and Western Stark County areas.

Our thanks to our friends at the Massillon Rotary Club, and to the board of the Massillon Rotary Foundation Trust!

Listen to Our CEO on WHBC's "Akron-Canton Connection" Radio Program

Teresa Barry, CEO of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, and our program manager, Nora Logsdon, will appear on this morning's "Akron-Canton Connection" program on WHBC radio, 1480 AM in Canton. The program begins at 9:10 a.m. EST and runs until 10 o'clock.

To listen to the program live, or to access their archive of shows to listen to it later, click on this link.

Terri was scheduled to appear in February, but severe winter weather required her attention that morning at the agency. She ended up appearing on the program via a brief phone interview. Her full appearance was rescheduled for today.

The Akron-Canton Connection, with hosts Rick Mirenzi and Berry Carter, focuses on encouraging stories about people and organizations who strive to make a difference in the community. It airs Wednesdays at 9:10 a.m. They have their own web site at www.akroncantonconnection.com.

Austin-Bailey Foundation Awards Grant to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties

The trustees of the Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation have approved a grant of $15,365 to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, to purchase a new stackable oven for our commercial commissary.

We began the grant writing process last fall and submitted our proposal in early December. The foundation's board met earlier this month to review proposals. Nineteen nonprofit organizations received grants in this cycle.

"We greatly appreciate the foundation's support," said Teresa Barry, CEO. "They have been a generous partner over the years.

"We don't use fryers, broilers, grills, stove tops or microwave ovens in our food preparation," said Terri. "We utilize only ovens and kettles to ensure the utmost in quality and nutritional integrity. Our previous stackable oven was 13 years old and needed regular repairs, so replacing it will make us more efficient and even more productive."

The Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation, based in Massillon, supports programs that promote the physical and mental well-being of individuals in Holmes, Stark, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.

Fishers Shoppers: Double Funding from Rewards Card Program This Weekend

We've publicized our participation in the Fishers Community Rewards Program a couple of times already, and now we have exciting news about a special promotion this weekend.

Fishers will double the percentage of customers' purchases that they'll donate to charity this weekend, March 25, 26 and 27, when shoppers present their Fishers Rewards Card at the time of purchase.

If you've signed up for the program and have designated Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties as your charity of choice, be sure to shop this weekend and use your Rewards Card. Fishers' donation to us on your behalf will automatically double -- it's as simple as that!

If you haven't signed up for a Rewards Card, or you have one but haven't designated a charity of choice, you can do so at the Fishers website, http://www.fishersfoods.com/, or by calling 1-888-866-9186.

Thanks again for your support of Meals On Wheels! The Fishers Community Rewards Program runs through Sunday, April 17.

Big Day! Lots of Help from Mayors For Meals and March For Meals

Today is a busy day for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties!

Eight mayors from communities in the two-county area are helping as part of the national Mayors For Meals initiative, sponsored by the Meals On Wheels Association of America. Mayors helping deliver meals in their cities today are: Dave Handwerk, Orrville; Bob Breneman, Wooster; Ed Tucker, Hartville; William Healy, Canton; Patricia Fallot, Louisville; Frank Cicchinelli, Massillon; Jacki Chamberlain, Shreve; and Bob Leach, Magnolia. Also helping in Massillon today is safety service director Michael Loudiana. We appreciate the participation of our city officials during today's activities!

Also assisting us today are a number of groups participating in our March For Meals. They'll be delivering door hangers with our contact information to residential areas in Stark and Wayne counties. Volunteers are helping from the following companies and organizations: American Electric Power; The Bridge; Brookdale Place; Malone University; Ramsburg Insurance; Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster; St. John's Church and the Westpark Neighborhood Association in Canton; Union Ave. Methodist Church in Alliance; and the University of Mount Union.

We are grateful for the assistance of our elected officials and friends from the two-county region in helping to spread the word and raise awareness of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties!

There Are Thousands of Homebound Individuals in Stark & Wayne Counties; Help Us Help Them!

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties delivers nutritious meals for homebound individuals five days a week. National census figures tell us there are a lot of people who need that service.

Based on the U.S. population, and calculated for the demographics of our two-county region, there are an estimated 6,000 homebound individuals in Stark and Wayne counties.

Part of our mission is to help those people remain independent and living in their own homes, rather than having to move to a nursing home or assisted living community. A key component of that is proper nutrition, and that's where we come in.

If you are homebound, or you know someone who is, please don't wait -- give us a call and let us show you how we can help. Our social services department assesses every inquiry on an individual basis. Delivery can usually begin within two business days.

If you're age 60 or older and can access transportation, you might enjoy our congregate dining program. Click here for a guide to the 14 sites where we offer congregate dining.

We also have need for volunteer drivers to help deliver meals to our clients. If you've been looking for a way to help in the community and make a difference in people's lives Meals On Wheels is the perfect opportunity.

Contact us at 330-832-7220, or online at www.mow-starkwayne.org.

U.S. Life Expectancy Surpasses 78, A New Record

Several months ago, Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties CEO Teresa Barry authored an opinion column for The Repository, the daily paper in Canton, Ohio, about the impact that retiring baby boomers would have on social service agencies over the next two decades.

In her column, Terri referred to the increasing life expectancy in the United States. That fact has again been confirmed by a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reveals that life expectancy in the U.S. has now surpassed 78, an all-time high.

As Terri pointed out in her article, when Social Security was created, life expectancy in the country was 65. The system was designed to help people for a few years of retirement. Now, with life expectancy approaching 80, there is a greater strain on Social Security -- and other entitlement programs -- than ever before.

As people age, they need greater levels of health care and social services. At Meals On Wheels, we're here to help those who are homebound by providing proper nutrition. That may be the difference for many people between remaining in their own home or requiring an assisted living facility or nursing home.

If you are homebound, or you know someone who is, we're here to help. If you're a senior who is not homebound, but who would enjoy having a meal in a social setting, we have a congregate dining program, with sites at churches, senior centers and community centers throughout the two-county area.

For more information on home-delivered or congregate programs, call us at 330-832-7220, or visit our web site at www.mow-starkwayne.org.

Volunteers' Struggle with Gas Prices Highlighted in The Repository

Media coverage of the battle that Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties volunteers are waging with rising gas prices is ongoing.

The Repository, the largest metro newspaper in our two county area, included a full sidebar article on the topic in this morning's editions, accompanying a lead story about rising gas prices in general.

Reporter Diana Rossetti interviewed Tom Delamater, the agency's public relations administrator, earlier this week. "Retirees carry much of the load for Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties," she wrote, and pointed out that using as much as two or three gallons a week has affected enough volunteers to the point that five resigned last week alone.

Click here to access the main story on The Repository's web site. Look for the sidebar about Meals On Wheels in the gray column to the right of the screen.

Photo courtesy of The Repository

Massillon Independent Profiles Volunteer Drivers' Struggle With Higher Gas Prices

The Independent, the daily paper here in Massillon, ran a front-page story on Wednesday about the impact of higher gas prices on our volunteers and our agency.

"Meals On Wheels Hits a Bump In the Road" read the headline, and the story, by reporter Erin Pustay, featured interviews with volunteer John Vondriska and CEO Teresa Barry.

A sidebar featured three ways readers could lend a hand during these tougher economic times.

Click here to read the article at the Independent web site.

Photo courtesy of The Independent.

Video of the Channel 3 News Report About the Impact of Higher Gas Prices on Meals On Wheels

Eric Mansfield's report on the impact of higher gas prices on Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties aired Tuesday on WKYC's Channel 3 News in Cleveland.

The report features CEO Teresa Barry and volunteer Margaret Fowler.

Click below to watch the report. It is also available on the WKYC web site.

WKYC-Ch. 3 To Air Story On Impact of Rising Gas Prices on Meals On Wheels

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties will be featured on tonight's evening newscasts on WKYC-Ch. 3, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland.

Reporter Eric Mansfield visited our agency today to interview CEO Teresa Barry about the effect that increased fuel prices have on agency operations. He also spoke to Margaret Fowler, who has been a volunteer for us for more than 20 years, about the impact of rising prices on our drivers.

Eric posted a written story on the WKYC web site early this afternoon. The report is scheduled to air on their 6 and 7 p.m. newscasts tonight and will later be available at wkyc.com.

Volunteers Needed Throughout Stark & Wayne Counties -- Can You Or Your Organization Help?

We always welcome new volunteers at Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, but right now there's an even greater need than usual.

For some of our dedicated volunteers, rising gas prices make it difficult to keep helping. Some have already had to step aside, and others have indicated that they may have to do the same, especially if prices keep going up. Those hardest hit are retirees on a fixed income who simply can't afford prices that are 20, 30 or even 50 percent higher than they were just a few months ago.

That may seem like an unusual time to ask new people to volunteer, but we're doing just that. We provide more than 2,000 meals a day, five days a week, and our volunteers cover 64 routes in the two-county area.

If you're in a position to help, and can handle the cost involved despite the rising gas prices, we would welcome your participation. We offer mileage reimbursement, training, and provide a detailed route book that takes you stop-by-stop to each client's residence.

We also have a number of companies and organizations that help deliver routes once a week. Individuals sign up and then take turns driving their designated weekly route. The more people who sign up, the less frequently any one individual is asked to drive. It's an easy, yet effective, way for a company or organization to be involved in an important community service -- and it's a huge help to our clients.

Click on the image above for more information. You can also call 330-832-7220, or visit us online at http://www.mow-starkwayne.org/.

There's Still Time to Support Meals On Wheels Through the Fishers Foods Rewards Program

Just a reminder that Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties is one of the charities registered for the Fishers Foods Community Rewards Program.

If you have a Fishers Rewards Card, you can designate us as your charity of choice. Then, one percent of everything you spend at Fishers between now and April 17 will go to Meals On Wheels. If you haven't already done so, you can designate us at 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 site.

The more cardholders who participate and select us as their charity of choice, the greater donation we'll receive from Fishers. It's that simple!

Thanks for your support of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

Roast Beef...Broccoli Cheese Soup...Meatball Subs...Chicken Parm...Our March Menu Is Sure to Tantalize the Taste Buds!

Our March menu is published and available. Click on the image below for a larger view. You can also view our menu on our website at www.mow-starkwayne.org/menu.aspx.