September event helps local seniors lead independent lives

Beachgoers and locals in the know are all too aware that September and October are two of the best months to visit – and live at – the beach. If you are one of the lucky ones to be here over the weekend of September 18th, don’t miss the 39th Annual Live and Silent Auction Dinner at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Not only will you be treated to some of the best views in the state, but you will also help the local Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth. Founded in 1970, this exclusively Sussex charity holds the distinction of being the first home-delivered meal program in the state of Delaware. The concept (but not the execution) is simple: Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth provides two meals a day, 365 days each year, to well over 200 homebound residents in the Lewes, Rehoboth and Harbeson areas.

The execution is an intricate, daily ballet performed by office staff, cooks, packers and drivers – almost all of them volunteers!  Most of the 100 drivers work 2 hours a week making a daily round trip of 25 to 40 miles to deliver 10 to 20 meals. Since 1995, Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth has delivered over 675,000 hot meals to deserving seniors! Each and every one of these hot meals is prepared at Fish On restaurant in Lewes. Several years ago, when the organization found itself without a food preparation facility, SoDel Concepts stepped in to provide the infrastructure for preparing the daily meals.

Retirees are living longer, and it’s a sad but proven fact that even a more-than-modest retirement account can be wiped out when illness comes to call. Additionally, for many of the recipients, the daily Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth delivery volunteer is their only connection to the outside world.

One of the longest-running charity events in Sussex County is the Harry Derrickson Memorial Golf Tournament held annually at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club. And on the eve of that golfing extravaganza is a pre-tournament dinner and auction. This year, there are many amazing auction items, including trips, one-of-a-kind experiences, and a very special item that has drawn some of the most spirited bidding in the past years: A 5-course dinner for 10! Doesn’t sound like much of a big deal until you hear the details: The meal is provided, prepared and served in the winner’s home by none other than Touch of Italy owner Bob Ciprietti. Joining him in the prize is yours truly, the Rehoboth Foodie, whippin’ up my famous fried chicken as an appetizer.

This year, that dinner will be even better with a hand-picked case of 90+-point wines from the private collection of Meals on Wheels Board President John Wolfle, along with a huge antipasto created by Rehoboth’s resident cheesemonger, Bill Wilson. The dollar amount of the winning bid just for that single auction item will stay right here in Sussex County and pay for over a thousand nourishing meals for deserving seniors!

So be a part of the fun, and help homebound seniors at the same time! Go to www.MealsOnWheels-LR.com and sign up for this fun dinner and auction experience. Be the winning bidder for the Touch of Italy/RehobothFoodie dinner, and I’ll get to wait on you in your home!