Sloppy Joes, BBQ Riblet, Burgers, Chicken and More -- Celebrate Summer with Our July Menu!

Our July menu features lots of traditional summertime fare. Click on the image below for a larger view, or view the menu on our agency webpage.

If you're homebound, or know someone who is, we can help! Call us at 330-832-7220 for information on home delivery. We also have congregate dining at several locations in Stark & Wayne counties, for seniors who enjoy interacting with others in a social setting.

Join Us at Sunday's MAPS Cruise-In and Get Your 'Wheels for Meals' Raffle Tickets!

Sunday, June 10, is the day for the third annual "Cruise-In" at the MAPS Museum by the Akron-Canton Airport -- and we'll have a booth available where we'll be selling tickets to our "Wheels for Meals" car raffle.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum, located at 2260 International Parkway in Green, on the west side of the airport.

Events during the day include a Ford Model-T Assembly car, a Native American Educational Demonstration including a dance demonstration, a celebration honoring all the armed forces, and door prizes.

Cruise cars are $10, which includes passengers. All walk-ins are $5 with children under 6 free. This includes free admission to the museum, which is an $8 value.

Look for our Car Raffle banner (pictured) and purchase your ticket for an opportunity to win either a three-year paid lease on a 2013 Ford Mustang convertible or $10,000 cash.

Raffle tickets are $75, and all proceeds from the raffle will benefit Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. We accept all major credit cards. Terms and conditions apply; click here for complete details, or call us at 330-832-7220, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m

We hope to see you at the MAPS Air Museum this Sunday!

Turkey Tetrazzini...Fish Sliders...Hungarian Pork Chops...All That and More On Our June Menu!

Our June menu is out, and it's loaded with a variety of delicious meals, prepared especially for our clients. Click on the image below for a larger view. You can also view our menu online at www.mow-starkwayne.org/menu.aspx.

Remember, all our meals are low sodium, and we accommodate specialized diets. For information on starting home delivery for yourself or a loved one, call us at 330-832-7220, or click here to visit our website.

Spuddy Buddy Rolls Through Massillon; St. Mary Students Get Up-Close View

The Famous Idaho Potato Tour lived up to its billing this morning as the Idaho Potato Commission's giant potato rolled into our parking lot on board "Spuddy Buddy," the truck that has been traveling the nation's highways since April.

The tour pulled in at 10 a.m. Kaiti, Ellis and Paul (the driver) hopped out and began preparing for a visit by fifth and sixth grade students from St. Mary School in Massillon. Meanwhile, several visitors stopped by and took photos of the giant spud, specially constructed for the tour that celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission.

The school bus carrying the students arrived at 11 a.m. Tour staff began by asking questions to see what they really knew about potatoes and why they're so nutritious. Students who gave correct answers received Spuddy Buddy plush potato dolls as prizes. Afterward, Kaiti, Ellis and Paul answered the students' questions about potatoes and the tour.

The crew also made a presentation to Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. On behalf of the Commission, Kaiti said that a month's worth of potatoes would be donated to the agency to be used in menu items for client meals. She made the presentation to Teresa Barry, our CEO.

Students posed for group photos with the potato before leaving at 11:30 to return to school. From Massillon, the tour headed to Pittsburgh, and from there on to Hartford, Conn.

Our thanks to the Idaho Potato Commission for their support, and to the Famous Idaho Potato Tour for including us on their schedule!

The staff of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties

poses with the Famous Idaho Potato Tour truck

Our Friends From Key Bank 'Make a Difference' at Meals On Wheels

Once again this year, associates from Key Bank volunteered with Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties as part of the bank's annual "Neighbors Make The Difference" day

Every year Key focuses on community service projects during May, which the company has designated as "Key Community Month." In addition to the month-long focus, this year Key set aside May 24 for "Neighbors Make The Difference," encouraging associates to volunteer with local non-profit agencies.

 Our volunteer team arrived at 9 a.m. today and immediately went to work in our commissary, helping to pack meals both for today and Monday. It's a big help for us, because tomorrow (Friday) we'll be delivering both the regular meal and a sack meal to our clients, so that they have their meal on Monday. We'll be closed Monday in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

Having the extra help makes a big difference for us, and for our clients. We appreciate our friends from Key Bank for their spirit of service!

Jackson High School Students Step Up to Serve!

Our thanks to students from Jackson High School who volunteered to serve at Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties on Friday, May 18.

Six students arrived at 9 a.m. and helped with some much needed landscaping projects around our building and on the surrounding property. The students were participating in an annual service project conducted by graduating seniors at the high school, to assist non-profit organizations in the community.

The students were here for five hours and did a lot of sprucing up for Spring. We appreciate their help and wish them well as they graduate and move on to new challenges ahead.

Radio Show to Spotlight 'Stark County Delivers' Program

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties will be in the spotlight this weekend on "Sunday Morning Magazine," a public affairs program broadcast locally on My101.7 FM in North Canton and Rock 106.9 WRQK-FM in Canton.

Tom Delamater, public relations administrator, and Dave Pilati, curriculum director for Plain Local Schools, will appear on the program to discuss Stark County Delivers, the volunteer recruitment program underway this month. Pilati is a member of the current class of Leadership Stark County, an initiative of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce that encourages community stewardship among area business and civic leaders.

Stark County Delivers is a campaign to recruit corporate volunteers to help with Meals On Wheels delivery routes. Delamater and Pilati were interviewed by John Amrhein, news director for the stations, in a segment taped earlier this week at the Clear Channel radio studios in North Canton.

The program will air Sunday, May 20, at 7 a.m. on both stations. It can also be heard on the stations' websites, at www.my1017.com or www.wrqk.com. Click the "Listen Live" button at the top of the page to hear the programming.

PHOTO: Dave Pilati (L) in the studio with John Amrhein.

Is America Failing Its Seniors? Report Card Cites Senior Hunger Epidemic

The number of seniors facing hunger in America nearly doubled to more than 8 million over the past decade, resulting in failing grades on the Senior Hunger Report Card, issued this month by the Meals On Wheels Research Foundation.

The report card examined the nation's progress in eight categories and assigned corresponding grades in each.

A grade of "F" was given in overall performance, as 8.3 million seniors faced the threat of hunger in 2010. That reflected a 78 percent increase over 2001, and a 34 percent increase since the start of the current economic recession in 2007.

The report card also gave an "F" in the areas of Economics, Women's Studies, and Ethics.

Grades were based on research and data published in “Senior Hunger in America 2010: An Annual Report,” which was prepared by Dr. James P. Ziliak of the Center for Poverty Research at the University of Kentucky and Dr. Craig Gundersen of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois.

The report estimated the threat of senior hunger on a state-by-state basis. Ohio has the 14th highest threat, with 15.78 percent of its seniors at risk.

“There is no question that we are failing our seniors, some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Enid  Borden, CEO of the foundation and president of the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). “The numbers spell out our failure with clarity, and at the same time they call us to action. No one in this, the richest nation on Earth, should face the threat of hunger, no one. And seniors, who have little power to change their circumstances, deserve our special attention.”

MOWAA and its member agencies, including Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, have established a goal of eliminating senior hunger in America by 2020. For information on how to help, call us at 330-832-7220.

The Famous Idaho Potato Tour Will Visit Us May 24!

Ever wanted to see a 12,000 pound potato? Then stop by Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties on Thursday, May 24, when the Famous Idaho Potato Tour brings "the worlds' largest spud" to Massillon.

The Idaho Potato Commission, a national supporter of Meals On Wheels, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary by touring the country with the world's largest potato, displayed on a flatbed truck. It's an updated, larger than life version of the photo on the classic Idaho Potato postcard that made the rounds over the years.

The tour is criss-crossing the United States and will be in Ohio most of that week. "Spuddy Buddy," the name of the truck that is carrying the giant spud, will be at Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on May 24. Our building is located at 2363 Nave Road Southeast in Massillon.

Visit the tour's website for facts and figures, plus photos and a video of how the super spud was built.

So stop by, and bring the kids -- you've got to see it to believe it! Take your picture with a one-of-a-kind slice of Americana, and celebrate Idaho Potatoes, Meals On Wheels, and our joint effort to fight hunger locally and across the country.

'Wheels for Meals' Car Raffle Tickets Available; Proceeds Will Support Meals On Wheels!

You? In a shiny new Ford Mustang convertible?

It could happen, if you're the winner of our "Wheels for Meals" car raffle, going on right now.

Tickets are $75 apiece, and the winner could claim either a three-year lease on a 2013 Ford Mustang or $10,000 in cash.

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties. It's a great way to support a great cause -- and who knows? You might just win!

For more information, call us at 330-832-7220.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Winner must be 21 years of age, have a valid driver's license, insurance, and must qualify through Ford Motor Credit to claim the automobile lease. Winner need not be present at the drawing, which will be held at The Main Event dinner/auction on Nov. 9, 2012. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. If fewer than 250 tickets are sold, the raffle becomes a 50/50 drawing.

'Stark County Delivers' Campaign Seeks Corporate Teams to Volunteer for Meals On Wheels

We're excited that Leadership Stark County (LSC) is partnering with us this month to help recruit businesses and organizations to deliver meals for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties!

Five members of the current LSC class are spearheading our "Stark County Delivers" campaign during the month of May, helping us spread the word about our corporate Adopt-a-Route program. 

Participating organizations select a route at one of our 20 sites and "adopt" that route for weekly deliveries. Employees sign up and deliver meals on a rotating basis, sharing the responsibilities.

Currently about a dozen organizations are involved, and we're hoping to double that number during the campaign.

It's especially important right now. Volunteers drive more than 60 routes every weekday, and currently there are a number of routes that do not have regular volunteer drivers during the week. The "Stark County Delivers" campaign is designed to address that need with both individual and corporate recruiting.

Most volunteers or volunteer teams serve once a week. Meals are delivered beginning at 11 a.m. weekdays, and most routes take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete.

For many of our clients, our volunteers are the only people they see during the day. It means a lot to receive a friendly greeting each day, and it provides peace of mind for them and their loved ones, knowing that someone is checking in on them each day.

To help spread the word about the campaign and recruit corporate volunteers, five members of the current class of Leadership Stark County comprise the committee that is spearheading the “Stark County Delivers” campaign. They are: Marcie Bragg, Goodwill Industries; Christina Burr, Aultman Hospital; Darla Brown, Gatehouse Media; Jill Dorsey, Alliance Community Hospital; and David Pilati, Plain Local Schools.

“We’re thrilled to be helping Meals On Wheels and excited about reaching out to the business community,” said Dorsey. “Delivering meals to the elderly and homebound is a perfect volunteer opportunity for a business that is looking to make a difference in our community.”

Companies or individuals interested in volunteering with Meals On Wheels should contact Linda Spielman at 330-832-7220.

The Massillon Rotary Club Adopts A Route!

Meal On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties welcomes the Massillon Rotary Club as our newest "Adopt-a-Route" participant! This morning the club began a regular schedule of delivering meals on a Massillon route every other Friday.

Richard Regula (pictured with Linda Spielman, our volunteer coordinator) was the first member to deliver on behalf of the Massillon club. Richard is director of market outreach at Mercy Medical Center in Canton.

Adopting a route is easy, and is a great way for your company or organization to help out in the community. You simply select a route at one of our locations nearest you, and then members of your organization or company sign up to deliver on a rotating basis. The more people who help, the easier it gets!

More important, you'll be making a difference in the lives of our homebound clients. Not only will you deliver food to those in need, but your team members may be the only people some of our clients see during the day. We provide more than a meal -- we offer companionship, compassion, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone is checking in on them during the day.

To become an Adopt-a-Route sponsor, contact Linda at 330-832-7220.

FTC Regional Director Discusses 'Scam Safety' with Seniors at Mayfield Manor

Residents of Mayfield Manor, a senior housing complex in Canton that serves as one of our Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties nutrition sites, were among those in attendance this morning to hear a presentation about avoiding scams that target seniors.

Jon Miller Steiger (on left in the photo), regional director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), presented information on how seniors can protect their money and avoid being victims of business scams.

"What I plan is to make you ambassadors," Steiger told the audience. "If I give you some tips and you give others some tips, then we can all benefit."

He said the FTC is "making sure that businesses are being truthful when they sell to you."

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was scheduled to speak at the event but was unable to attend. Max Blachman (on right in above photo), Brown's Northeast Ohio representative, attended in the senator's place and introduced Steiger's presentation.

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties operates four delivery routes daily out of Mayfield Manor, which is located at 3844 11th St. S.W. in Canton. We also serve lunch at the site Monday through Friday as part of our congregate dining program.

A Car or Cash? That Could Be Your Choice If You Win Our 'Wheels for Meals' Car Raffle!

You? In a shiny new Ford Mustang convertible?

It could happen, if you're the winner of our "Wheels for Meals" car raffle, going on right now. Or you could just take the money!

Tickets are $75 apiece, and the winner could claim either a three-year lease on a 2013 Ford Mustang or $10,000 in cash. Click on the image above for complete details.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Winner must be 21 years of age, have a valid driver's license, insurance, and must qualify through Ford Motor Credit to claim the automobile lease. Drawing to be held on Nov. 9, 2012. Winner need not be present. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. If fewer than 250 tickets are sold, the raffle becomes a 50/50 drawing.

'The Main Event' Set For November, Will Raise Funds and Awareness for Meals On Wheels

Mark your calendar for Friday, Nov. 9 -- the night when Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties will introduce "The Main Event," our dinner/auction, at Glenmoor Country Club in Canton.

The theme for this year is "Give Hunger the Boot," complete with a Western-style menu and Western decor. We'll be partnering with Shared Blessings, a local organization that raises funds for a variety of charitable causes in the area, to raise money and awareness for our mission.

Tickets to the event are $100. There are a number of sponsorship opportunities that include tickets to the event.

In addition to the fundraising aspect of the event, we will also recognize three pioneers who were instrumental in forming what became Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties: Bill Belden, Stan Cmich and Jane Schirack.

This summer, as part of the event festivities, we are conducting a car raffle in conjunction with Waikem Auto Group. We'll raffle off the chance to win a three-year lease on a 2013 Ford Mustang. Click here for details.

For tickets or to become a sponsor, call us at 330-832-7220.

Meals On Wheels Volunteers Featured In United Way Publication Highlighting Volunteerism

Jerry and Mary Felland (left), volunteers for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, are featured in a newspaper insert in today's Canton Repository that promotes volunteerism in our community and highlights National Volunteer Week, which will take place April 15-21.

The 12-page tabloid publication, produced by United Way of Greater Stark County, highlights the benefits of volunteering, and promotes volunteerism by companies and organizations. Jerry and Mary, who serve out of our Brewster site, are featured in a "Volunteer Recognition Testimonial" profile.

"I volunteer because it's a way to help and give back to the community and it's something useful to do," the article quotes Jerry as saying. "I truly enjoy meeting and getting to know the people we serve. Meals On Wheels always needs more volunteers. I wish that more people would take an interest in volunteering for their community."

Mary also discusses the benefits of their service: "I absolutely love seeing the people and hearing the stories they have to tell. You really build a relationship with the people you serve here. Meals on Wheels is an excellent organization! It means so much more than just providing food to people in need. It is a means of checking up on the elderly and the disabled. For some of the clients, we are the only person they see throughout the day."

To read the full article, click on the photo to the right.

The publication was produced in conjunction with Volunteer Leaders in Action (VLIA), a professional organization that provides a platform of education, support and networking for volunteer leaders in the non-profit sector. Linda Spielman, volunteer coordinator for Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, is vice president of VLIA.

"Jerry and Mary are wonderful people, and are willing to help in any way they can," said Linda. "They truly exemplify the spirit of service that volunteering is all about."

Without our volunteers, we would not be able to serve the hundreds and hundreds of clients we do every day. If you or your company would like to join hands with us to help our homebound neighbors, just give Linda a call at 330-832-7220, or visit the Volunteer section of our website.

Welcome Our New CFO, Carla Frank

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties is pleased to announce the hiring of Carla Frank as the agency's chief financial officer.

Carla brings more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, working exclusively with non-profit and health care clients. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. Before joining Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, she was an assurance services manager with Bruner-Cox, LLP.

Carla is also active in the community. She volunteers as a board member of Quest Recovery & Prevention Services and with the Girl Scouts of America and is an active member of St. Mary Church and School in Massillon.

A graduate of Malone University, Carla lives in North Lawrence with her husband and their two daughters.

Area Mayors, Council Members Deliver on 'Mayors For Meals' Day

Nine area mayors and city council members joined forces with Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties this morning to deliver meals during the annual "Mayors For Meals" event.

"Mayors For Meals," sponsored by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is part of MOWAA's month-long "March For Meals" campaign, a national effort to heighten awareness about senior nutrition, senior hunger, and meal delivery programs across the country.

Joining us today, and delivering out of sites in their respective communities, were: Mayor Bob Breneman, Wooster; Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Massillon; Mayor Richard Currie, Hartville; Councilman James Griffin, Canton Ward 3; Mayor David Handwerk, Orrville; Mayor Bob Leach, Magnolia; Mayor Terry Lindeman, Doylestown; Mayor Mike Schwab, Brewster; and Councilwoman Christine Smith, Canton Ward 4.

Pictured in the top photo are Ted Herncane, community development director for the City of Massillon; Mayor Catazaro-Perry; and volunteers David Allen and Lloyd Porter, in the lobby of our administrative center in Massillon. In the lower photo, the mayor and volunteer Sharon Parker pause before beginning their delivery route.

We appreciate all of the mayors and council members for taking time out of their schedules to deliver meals and draw attention to the work of Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties.

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties Receives Walmart Foundation Grant

Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties has been awarded a $3000 grant from the Walmart Foundation for our participation in the "We Are Meals On Wheels" public awareness campaign last fall.

"We Are Meals On Wheels" is the national slogan developed by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), headquartered in Alexandria, Va. The marketing campaign and a variety of resources for member agencies were introduced at last year's MOWAA conference in Chicago.

Locally, we promoted the campaign via our social media pages, distribution of volunteer recruitment fliers, and airing of television promos on Canton City Schools Television and the City of Canton Televsion, both on Time Warner Cable in Canton.

"Your program has proven that it is a leader in this national campaign," said Enid Borden, MOWAA president and CEO. "Only with sustained awareness-building efforts will we be able to end senior hunger in America by 2020."

Challenges Met: Meals On Wheels Profiled in Massillon Independent's 'Progress' Section

"Creativity and community support" allowed Meals On Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties to continue to fulfill its mission in 2011 despite numerous challenges, according to a profile in the Massillon Independent's "Progress 2012" section on March 10.

The article discusses how the rising cost of fuel carries over to the cost of food, which in turn has gone up. Both increases affect the agency's bottom line.

As a result, "we're inventing new ways to keep the business going," CEO Teresa Barry told the Independent.

Click on the article image for a larger, readable version.