March for Meals campaign to feed seniors, fight social isolation
CHEER Inc. announced it will be participating in the 15th annual March for Meals - a monthlong, nationwide celebration of Meal on Wheels and the homebound and vulnerable seniors who rely on its vital safety net. The celebration will include Meals on Wheels delivery by county dignitaries and elected officials Wednesday, March 17, and celebration dinners at all CHEER activity centers from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, in Ocean View, Lewes and Greenwood, and March 30 in Long Neck, Milton, Roxana and Georgetown.
"The services that we provide the seniors of Sussex County are critical and the need is rapidly increasing," said Florence Mason, director of CHEER's nutrition program. "Together, we can keep seniors living independently, healthier at home and feeling more connected to their community as they age."
Since 2002, Meals on Wheels America has led the annual awareness campaign in an effort to fill the gap between the seniors served and those in need. This gap is widening due to increased demand with a rapidly aging population combined with declining public and private resources, and rising food, transportation and operational costs. This March, hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs, like CHEER, will reach out to their communities to build the support that will enable them to deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to America's seniors all year long.
"March is a time for us all to rally around Meals on Wheels," said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. "Our ability to meet the needs of vulnerable seniors lies in the willingness and generosity of businesses, government and concerned individuals of all ages to contribute in their own way. It not only makes economic sense to enable seniors to stay healthy and safe at home, but it improves the health and vibrancy of our communities and our nation at large."
CHEER Inc. is an independent non-profit agency that provides services for senior citizens age 50 and over in order to help them maintain healthy and active lifestyles in their homes. CHEER serves over 1,200 meals per day in its seven activity centers and to the homebound throughout Sussex County. For more information on volunteering to deliver meals in Sussex County, contact Elizabeth Walls at 302-515-3061. For more information about CHEER, go to www.cheerde.com.
