Our New Toyota Is Here!

Tuesday was a banner day for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. During a ceremony at Cain Toyota in North Canton, we were presented with our new 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which we won in July as a result of Facebook voting in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program.

Brian Cain, vice president of Cain Toyota, and Brad Briede from Toyota's regional office in Cincinnati were on hand to present the Highlander to Meals On Wheels. In attendance from the agency were Teresa Barry, CEO; board members Dave Grimm, Dan Plumly and James Pritchard; Nora Logsdon, program manager and dietitian; and Tom Delamater, public relations administrator.

Mr. Cain had another surprise in store during the ceremony. After explaining a new "dealer match" donation program recently initiated by Toyota, he presented the agency with a check from Cain Toyota for $2,500 -- which Toyota's corporate office will match, netting a $5,000 gift to Meals On Wheels.

The Highlander will be used for food deliveries to our sites, client meal deliveries, and other agency business as needed. Included with the donation of the vehicle was a free extended warranty package from Toyota.

"We are grateful beyond words for Toyota's generosity," Terri said. "Not only for the Highlander, but also for the financial donation from Cain Toyota and their corporate division.

"Toyota's support for non-profits through the 100 Cars for Good program and the dealer match donation program is an incredible gesture of community support, not just locally, but nationwide," she said. "What they are doing for organizations around the country is truly amazing."

You can read more about the presentation ceremony in an article in today's Canton Repository.

(Pictured above, L to R: Board members James Pritchard, Dave Grimm and Dan Plumly; CEO Teresa Barry; Brian Cain, VP of Cain Toyota; and Brad Briede of Toyota's Cincinnati regional office.)

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.

New Center on Nutrition and Aging an Important Step in the Fight Against Senior Hunger

A new national resource center being established by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is an important step in addressing the problem of senior hunger in America.

The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging will provide MOWAA member agencies and other organizations—such as national, state and regional agencies involved with aging—with the research and resources needed to effectively maintain community-based nutrition programs for older adults.

A $315,000 grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) provided initial funding for the center.

“The AoA grant recognizes MOWAA and its network of member nutrition programs across the country for our leadership in addressing the serious problem of senior hunger in America,” said Teresa Barry, CEO of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties and a board member for Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), based in Alexandria, Va.

“In addition to providing critical information and needed resources for current nutrition providers, the National Resource Center will be a focal point for making certain that Meals On Wheels and other senior nutrition programs will be ‘future ready’ to meet the demands of an increasingly older population in this country,” said Enid Borden, President and CEO of MOWAA (pictured at right).

The Center will become a clearinghouse of resources designed to connect senior nutrition, health and the provision of nutrition services. This information will be available to assist local meal providers with the resources needed to provide nutritious meals more efficiently now and in the future, and will enable the public to obtain important information about nutrition and health.

Barry also sits on the board of the Meals On Wheels Research Foundation, which works to eliminate hunger and malnutrition among America’s seniors through research, education, fundraising and community awareness.

“We continue to sound the alarm about the growing problem of senior hunger in this country,” said Barry. “Slowly but surely the message is getting out, and we’re seeing growth in donations, corporate and foundation support, and volunteerism.

“Working together with the Administration on Aging, MOWAA and its member programs will be a more powerful and effective advocate for seniors and other Americans who are nutritionally at-risk.”

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For more information:

News release from the Meals On Wheels Association of America

News release from the U.S. Administration on Aging

Food, Gasoline Prices Jump Again - But Meals On Wheels Must Keep On Rolling!

Food and gasoline prices rose again in September, putting an added strain on consumers and businesses, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Food prices rose 0.4 percent, pushed up by big increases in the dairy, cereals, and fruits and vegetables categories. Gas prices rose 2.9 percent.

Dairy prices alone have jumped 10.2 percent in the past year. Gasoline prices have soared 33.3 percent.

These increases have placed an added strain on the operating budgets of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties and other meal delivery programs around the country. With the vast majority of our clients on fixed incomes and/or structured federal or state assistance programs, we are not in a position to pass higher costs on to our consumers the way a traditional business would -- nor would we want to.

How can you help? One way is to volunteer to deliver meals to your homebound neighbors. It makes a difference for them, and for us, and it will enrich your life in the process. Right now we are in need of volunteers at many of our sites in the two-county area. Volunteers typically help one morning a week for 60 to 90 minutes.

We also gratefully accept donations throughout the year. Contributions help us underwrite the cost of meals for seniors who otherwise might not be able to afford them. Donations also help offset rising operating expenses and maintain office equipment, commissary equipment (all of our food is prepared fresh daily), and our delivery trucks, each of which log more than 30,000 miles a year delivering food to our sites.

To make a donation, please call 330-832-7220. Or you can mail it to:

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, 2363 Nave St. SE, Massillon, OH 44646

Thank you!

Congress Must Reauthorize the Older Americans Act; Here's How You Can Make Your Voice Heard

Did you know that one in three older Americans is economically insecure, living just one bad break away from an economic crisis? Or that one in nine is at-risk for hunger?

Meals On Wheels and other programs supported by the Older Americans Act (OAA) help vulnerable seniors avoid hunger and financial crisis. This groundbreaking legislation, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, strengthened the economic and health conditions of senior citizens in the United States.

As Congress debates OAA funding and reauthorization this fall, we must raise our voices in support of this critical legislation. Our CEO Teresa Barry voiced her concern in an opinion piece that ran in The Repository, the daily paper in Canton, Ohio, in June 2010. As Terri wrote:

"The flexibility of the Older Americans Act enables it to assist a segment of the population that does not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. However, since it is not an entitlement program as those are, and as Social Security is, it is not guaranteed funding by Congress."

That is why Congress must be reminded of the importance of the OAA and the programs it supports.

For more information on the campaign to support the Older Americans Act, visit the One Away website.

MOW Volunteer: '...A Lot of Unexpected Benefits to My Experience'

If you've thought about volunteering in the community, consider the experience of Susie, a Meals On Wheels volunteer.

"I always knew I'd enjoy volunteering for Meals On Wheels, but there were a lot of unexpected benefits to my experience," she said.

"The more I got to know the seniors on my delivery route, the more comfortable I felt -- and the more I looked forward to seeing them again. It was as if I'd knocked on my own grandmother's door; she lived alone and would have loved it if someone stopped by to bring a meal and chat. I'm proud to be part of a network of volunteers that provides a much-needed service and builds lasting relationships with seniors in our community."

Susie's experience is featured in a promotional campaign created by the Meals On Wheels Association of America to help raise awareness about the issue of senior hunger in America -- and what meal delivery programs from coast to coast are doing to solve the problem.

Right now there is an urgent need for volunteers in Stark and Wayne counties. Most of our volunteers deliver meals once a week. Deliveries start at 11 a.m. and take between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the route. We have 21 sites in the two-county area, and we'll match you to a location that is most convenient to where you live or work.

We provide training, step-by-step route directions, and mileage reimbursement. If you'd like to help, call 330-832-7220 -- or click here to complete our online volunteer application.

For many of our clients, Meals On Wheels volunteers are the only people they see during the day. We offer peace of mind for them and their loved ones by checking in on them on a regular basis. Your service as a Meals On Wheels volunteer will brighten their days and make a huge difference in their lives.

Please join us!

Listen to Our CEO, Program Manager on WHBC's 'Health Matters' Radio Program

CEO Teresa Barry and Dietitian/Program Manager Nora Logsdon of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties appeared on this morning's edition of "Health Matters with The Medicine Center Pharmacy" on Newstalk 1480 WHBC in Canton.

Terri and Nora were interviewed by hosts Paul White and Brad White of the Medicine Center. "Health Matters" airs every Friday morning on WHBC. They discussed the history and mission of our agency, along with information about how we plan and prepare our meals and how people can begin home delivery.

To listen to the entire interview, follow this link to the WHBC program archives: Health Matters with The Medicine Center Pharmacy. Scroll down to the audio of the Oct. 7 program.

Video Illustrates How Meals On Wheels Addresses Senior Hunger in America

Here's a cool video infographic that demonstrates the problem of senior hunger in America, and what we're doing about it at Meals On Wheels:



For home delivery, or to volunteer to help us in our cause, call 330-832-7220.