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.

Are You Homebound? Do You Know Someone Who Is? We Can Help!

If you're homebound (or know someone who is) Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties can ensure proper nutrition and daily personal contact through our home meal delivery program.

We're the largest, most dependable provider of nutrition in the two-county area. Home-delivered meals are available for homebound individuals and supports their choice to remain or recuperate in the comfort of their own home.

Meals can be contracted on a short-term or long-term basis. Individuals recovering from illness or injury find the nutritional support provided by our meals to be an important part of their recuperative progress, and that it assists in an optimum recovery.

Be sure to visit our website at http://www.mow-starkwayne.org/ to learn more, or call us at 330-832-7220 to find out how to start home meal delivery.

Meal Deliveries Cancelled Today

For the second time this month, Mother Nature has hit Stark and Wayne counties -- and all of Northeast Ohio -- with a severe winter storm. As a result, we have cancelled meal deliveries for today.

It's the first time in our history that we've had to cancel deliveries twice in the same year. However, the roads are too hazardous for our volunteers to be out driving.

If you have a loved one who normally receives their meal from us on Fridays, please check in with them to make sure they're doing okay and have heat, water, and other necessities.

Call for Volunteers In the Alliance, Wooster Areas

Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties is seeking additional volunteers to help deliver meals to homebound individuals in Wooster and the surrounding area.

“We currently have a number of openings for volunteer drivers in the Alliance and Wooster areas,” said Teresa Barry, CEO. “Often our volunteers are the only people our clients see during the day, so the volunteers deliver more than just a meal when they visit. They also provide peace of mind and a friendly smile to those who are alone.”

Each weekday, we deliver about 100 meals on five routes in the Alliance area, and 120 meals on six routes in the Wooster area. Volunteer drivers typically deliver meals one day a week, and routes takes anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes to complete. The agency provides training and mileage reimbursement to all volunteers.

For information on how to volunteer, call Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties at 1-800-466-8010, or visit their Web site at http://www.mow-starkwayne.org/.

Photo courtesy of The Independent

CEO Comments On New Economic Realities for Nation's Seniors

On Friday, Jan. 14, a letter to the editor from CEO Teresa Barry was published in The Repository, the daily paper in Canton. We're posting it here because of the importance and relevance of the topic.

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Seniors will need all the help they can get in coming years

Recent figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau reveal a shocking economic reality for seniors in our country.

A new formula that takes into account out-of-pocket medical expenses indicates that one in six people age 65 and older—16 percent—are living in poverty. Even Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits can’t offset the devastating financial impact being felt by older Americans.

This is a major issue that is only going to become more serious in the years ahead. Record numbers of people are about to enter their retirement years as the Baby Boomer generation ages. The strain on entitlement programs and our health care system, already great, will continue to snowball.

We must not look away while our parents and grandparents struggle with the new economic realities. There are many resources available to assist older Americans, particularly those who are disabled or homebound.

As a community, we need to be aware of the issues facing our seniors, and ready to lend a hand wherever possible. We should also raise these issues with our state and federal representatives, to insist that they provide the means for older Americans to continue to live with dignity.

TERESA L. BARRY, MASSILLON
CEO, MEALS ON WHEELS
OF STARK & WAYNE COUNTIES

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The letter stirred interest in media circles; following its publication, Terri was invited on the "Golden Opportunities" television program in Cleveland to talk about the issues it addressed with host Armand Budish, who is also the minority leader in the Ohio House of Representatives.