Fun Fest a HUGE Success, Benefits Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties

Whew! What a great day for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties on Saturday, June 25, as about 1,000 people -- including corporate teams, agency volunteers, and the general public -- enjoyed the sights, sounds and attractions at Sluggers & Putters during our inaugural Meals On Wheels Fun Fest, sponsored by Avalon Foodservice, Inc., of Canal Fulton.

The day began with our corporate challenge, as 15 teams competed in a series of fun-filled events that included go-cart races, bumper boat basketball, miniature golf, the rock climbing wall, and the closest-to-the-pin contest on the golf driving range.

The team representing the Akron-Canton Connection radio show, featuring the Pro Football Hall of Fame Queen and her court (shown at right), won first-place honors in the corporate challenge. Second place went to the Finney's Pharmacy team, and third went to the team representing Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Democratic candidate for mayor in Massillon.

A picnic lunch for all participants followed the events, and trophies were awarded at that time.

Beginning at 1 p.m., our Volunteer Appreciation luncheon, sponsored by Diebold, got underway at the pavilion. Volunteers were also provided with free admission to all attractions at the park during the afternoon.

From 12 noon to 6 p.m., the park was open to the public for just $10 a person. More than 700 people came out to enjoy the discounted price and support Meals On Wheels, making it one of the largest one-day crowds in the park's 20-year history.

We're indebted to all our sponsors and corporate teams for making the event a rousing success, and to our guests from throughout Northeast Ohio who came out to enjoy a great time for a great cause! See you next year!

Saturday Is The Day: Our Big Fun Fest at Sluggers & Putters, and More That Night!

Saturday is shaping up to be a big day for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties!

Our inaugural Fun Fest at Sluggers & Putters kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with the corporate challenge, featuring teams from area companies competing in a series of fun activities at the park's venues.

The big part of the day, from a public standpoint, begins at 12 noon, when admission will be just $10 a person -- for unlimited access to the park's attractions! Come out and enjoy miniature golf, bumper boats, batting cages, the rock climbing wall, the driving range, the Monkey Jump trampoline, bumper cars and more. The concession stand and game arcade will also be open. The special pricing will be good until 6 p.m. So come one, come all, and enjoy an affordable afternoon of fun in the sun!

Later that night, the Church of the Lakes will be hosting a benefit dance featuring their dance band playing favorites from the Swing Era. The dance begins at 7:30 and the donation is $10 per person. Proceeds will benefit both Meals On Wheels and the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.

There's something for everyone on Saturday. Make plans now to have a great time and support a great cause, at the Fun Fest at Sluggers & Putters or the benefit dance at the Church of the Lakes.

Enter to Win a Buehler's Grocery Shopping Spree and Help Meals On Wheels!

The folks at the Akron-Canton Connection radio show are at it again, this time partnering with Buehler's Grocery Store in Jackson Township to help raise money for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties and The Meals On Wheels Fun Fest Challenge.

Today, June 22, through Friday, June 25, Rick Mirenzi and Berry Carter, hosts of the Akron-Canton Connection on 1480 WHBC-AM, and several of their sponsors, are manning the tables at Buehler's from 2 to 8 p.m. each day. Patrons can take advantage of the chance to win a shopping spree by purchasing $5 raffle tickets (3 for $12) at the Meals On Wheels/Akron-Canton Connection table in the store lobby.

The winner of the raffle will receive a 90-second shopping spree on Tuesday, Aug. 23. They'll be able to race through the store and load up their cart with as much as they can (some store restrictions apply) in 90 seconds -- and it's their's to keep.

If you live in the Canton-Massillon vicinity and would like to enter for a chance to win the Buehler's shopping spree, stop in between now and Friday, 2 to 8 p.m., and purchase your raffle ticket! The winner will be notified and need not be present at the drawing.

Also this month, you can make a donation at the Jackson Township Buehler's to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. PLU coupons are available at the registers in different amounts; you just take the amount you want to give, hand it to the cashier, and they'll scan it and add it to your grocery bill.

We appreciate the wonderful support of Buehler's in Jackson Township, and our friends Rick and Berry from the Akron-Canton Connection. Buehler's is located in the Nobles Pond Shopping Center, 7138 Fulton Dr. N.W.

Be sure to tune in every Wednesday morning at 9:10 on 1480 WHBC for the Akron-Canton Connection with Rick and Berry!

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties Featured in The Suburbanite

The Suburbanite, a weekly paper serving southern Summit and northern Stark counties, profiled Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties in its June 15 edition.

The article, by reporter Ann Kagarise, also includes information about The Meals On Wheels Fun Fest Challenge, coming up Saturday, June 25, at Sluggers & Putters fun park in Canal Fulton.

"The fluctuating gas prices affect the bottom line costs, but the trucks still deliver the meals to the sites every day, going from Alliance to Wooster to Uniontown to Waynesburg," wrote Kagarise.

The article can be found on the Suburbanite website: "Meals on Wheels doing more in tough economy."

Meals On Wheels Fun Fest Challenge Featured in Canton Repository

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties and The Meals On Wheels Fun Fest Challenge received wonderful coverage in today's edition of The Repository, the daily paper in Canton, Ohio.

Gary Brown, editor of the paper's "Your Life" section, ran a story titled "Event to help raise funds for Meals on Wheels." The story provides the details of the event, which will take place on Saturday, June 25, at Sluggers & Putters fun park in Canal Fulton. The morning will feature a corporate challenge, with teams from area sponsoring companies competing in good-natured, fun events, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The park will be open to the public from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Admission during that time will be just $10 per person, for unlimited access to all park activities -- miniature golf, go karts, bumper boats, the Monkey Jump, bumper cars, the batting cages, the rock climbing wall, and the golf driving range. All proceeds will benefit Meals On Wheels.

The article details how Rick Mirenzi and Berry Carter, hosts of "The Akron-Canton Connection" on WHBC-AM in Canton, had Meals On Wheels CEO Teresa Barry on their program.

"We didn't realize that Meals on Wheels reaches 2,000 people a day," the article quotes Mirenzi as saying. "And she told us what a difficult time volunteers were having when gas prices started to spike."

From that, the idea for the Fun Fest was born. Click on the image to the left to see the clipping of the Repository story.

For more information on the Fun Fest, see "Enjoy Sluggers & Putters Fun Park for Just $10 and Support Meals On Wheels, Saturday, June 25!" on our agency blog, or call us at 330-832-7220.

Enjoy Sluggers & Putters Fun Park for Just $10 and Support Meals On Wheels, Saturday, June 25!

An afternoon of family fun at Sluggers & Putters in Canal Fulton, all for just $10 a person?

Absolutely!

Bring your family to The Meals On Wheels Fun Fest on Saturday, June 25, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and enjoy unlimited access to the rides and activities at Sluggers & Putters, all for just 10 bucks!

Play miniature golf. Play again. And again, if you want to.

Enjoy the bumper cars, batting cages, and driving range. As much as you want, as many times as you want.

Try the rock climbing wall, or strap yourself in for the Monkey Jump. Test your skill on the bumper boats, or the go cart raceway. Go back and do it again.

It's all just $10 a person! And it's all for a good cause, as proceeds will go to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

The park's concession stand will be open. So will the game arcade, where you can cool off and play a few games while you rev up for another shot at the outdoor attractions. And Auntie Em's ice cream stand is at the north end of the park.

What a day for family fun -- and for helping our homebound neighbors receive nutritious meals from Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

Come one, come all! See you at Sluggers & Putters on Saturday, June 25, from 12 noon to 6 p.m.

Don't miss it!

(You can help spread the word! Click on the flier image below to "Save As" onto your computer, and then email to friends and coworkers.)

Story of Fallen Veteran, Meals On Wheels Volunteer, Gains National Attention

All of us at Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties were saddened to learn of the passing of James Catron, a volunteer at our Brewster site. Jim, a decorated Korean War veteran, died on Memorial Day while attempting to replace the U.S. Flag on the TV tower outside of his home in Richville, Ohio.

Jim had used a safety belt to tie himself to the tower as he worked on replacing the flag. Paramedics lowered him to the ground, and it was later determined that he had died of natural causes.

In a touching show of respect, local firefighters later returned to the Catron home to replace the flag. "It was Memorial Day, and he was trying to be patriotic," firefighter Larry Sedlock told a local reporter. "It was the only thing we could do to help out."

The story first appeared in The Independent in Massillon, Ohio, and then was picked up nationally by FoxNews.com and other outlets via an Associated Press report.

Jim, 83, had been a volunteer with Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties for 15 years.

"Jim was very kind-hearted and was the kind of person who would do anything for anybody," said Linda Spielman, volunteer coordinator for Meals On Wheels.

"Not only did he volunteer with us, but he was a family friend going back well over 40 years," said Tom Delamater, public relations administrator for the agency. "He was a kind and gentle soul and will be missed."

We are grateful for his service to Meals On Wheels, and extend our condolences to the Catron family.

The story in The Independent: "Perry veteran dies while changing flag"

The story on FoxNews.com: "Korean War Veteran Dies While Replacing Flag at Ohio Home on Memorial Day"

Television report from WKYC-Ch 3 in Cleveland: "War veteran dies replacing flag"

MOWSW Staff Member Receives Community Service Award from Masons

Sally Fusek, coordinator of our site in Shreve, just south of Wooster in Wayne County, was recently awarded the Grand Master of Masons of Ohio Community Service Award for the 20th Masonic District.

Nominated by the Brethren of Garfield Lodge No. 528 in Shreve, Sally was praised by Shreve Mayor Jacki Chamberlain as the community's "go-to person."

"I don't know what I, as mayor, or the village would do without her," Chamberlain told a reporter from The Daily Record in Wooster. "She takes care of so many concerns or problems that would usually fall through the cracks. We are blessed to have her watching over our village."

We salute Sally, not only for her dedication to Meals On Wheels, but also her example of service in her community.

Read more in the article "Shreve resident receives honor from Masons," published in the May 23 edition of The Daily Record.

Italiano Patty w/Alfredo...Swiss Steak...and Hungarian Pork Chops? Just Another Month of Delicious Cuisine with An International Flair!

If you thought Meals On Wheels delivered a sandwich and an apple...think again! Our monthly menus feature delicious entrees prepared fresh daily in our commissary, and delivered with care to our clients' doors by our friendly, dedicated volunteers. This month's menu includes mouth-watering meals that always meet 1/3 the daily recommended allowance for nutrition. Click on the menu below to see a larger image. If you're interested in home delivery, call us at 330-832-7220!