Giving Wisely This Holiday Season

"How you give — and not just what you give — to a charity matters."

So begins a story published in the Canton Repository about giving to non-profit organizations, particularly during the approaching holiday season.

The article quotes H. Art Taylor, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, who says that despite tough economic times "people are still looking for creative or small ways that they can give back and support those who are even less fortunate over the holidays."

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties welcomes contributions from individuals and corporations who are looking to have a direct impact in the community. Regular donations are used to underwrite the cost of providing meals to seniors and other homebound individuals who might otherwise be unable to afford them.

For example, a donation of $25 provides a week's worth of home-delivered meals to a neighbor right here in the local Stark-Wayne area. A $100 gift provides a person with meals for an entire month.

Our meals are prepared fresh daily in our commercial commissary in Massillon, and delivered by our dedicated volunteers to residents of communities from Wooster to Alliance and all points in between. (Visit the "Delivery & Dining" page of our website to see all of our locations.)

As Mr. Taylor says in the article, "it's important...to make sure that your dollar stretches the farthest it can in this tough economy."

Your dollar will indeed make a difference in providing nutritious meals to homebound individuals who need them, especially during the coming holiday season.

As the article also points out, "In today’s tight economy, you may not have money, but you can always give a little bit of your time to help support a worthy cause."

We are always in need of volunteers to help deliver meals in the two-county area. Most volunteers help once a week, for about 90 minutes. We'll train you and provide stop-by-stop directions for your delivery route. Mileage reimbursement is also available.

If you'd like to mail a donation to us, please send it to: Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, 2363 Nave St. S.E., Massillon, OH 44646. To donate by credit card, or for information about volunteering, please call us at 330-832-7220.