March for Meals (Meals On Wheels awareness month) kicked off on March 3 at Hanson Motors. Dennis Mahar, Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging said a few words about the senior population in Mason and Thurston County, followed by a heart warming story from Paul Randall, a Meals On Wheels volunteer in Rochester. Other March for Meals events this week include preparation of Meals On Wheels and participation in congregate meal service at several sites by Pete Kmet, Tumwater Mayor, Nathaniel Jones, Olympia City Council, Terri Jeffreys, Mason County Commissioner, Tracy Moore, Shelton City Commissioner and Cheryl Selby, Olympia City Council. In addition, Jeannine Roe, Olympia City Council and Sandra Romero, County Commissioner went and will go on a Meals On Wheels delivery route this month. The South Puget Sound Rotary (pictured above) packed extra Meals On Wheels to be delivered as emergency meals out of the Olympia site.

 

March for Meals month is a celebration championed by the national Meals On Wheels Association to bring attention to the importance of the local Meals On Wheels programs. According to the Meals On Wheels Association, nearly 1 in 6 seniors is threatened by hunger. Thanks to Meals On Wheels, local homebound seniors benefit from weekly deliveries of nutritious fresh and frozen meals, emergency shelf stable groceries, milk, bread and cases of Ensure.

 

Senior Services for South Sound delivered more than 60,000 meals to homebound seniors in 2013. 87% of Meals On Wheels participants state that Meals On Wheels improves their health and 90% say it helps them feel more secure. In addition, 92% claim it is helping them live in their home longer and the volunteer meal deliverer gives them a social connection they may not otherwise have.

 

Meals On Wheels is partially funded by Federal dollars though the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging. The rest is funded by private grants, donations and fundraising events. Please mail donation checks to Meals On Wheels c/o Senior Services for South Sound, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501 or go to our website at www.SouthSoundSeniors.org. 

Join us this Thursday, March 20 at 3 pm at The Olympia Center for our Annual Meeting. Natalie Ellington is our keynote speaker and will discuss "Life Reimagined." Refreshments will be served. This meeting is sponsored by Port Blakely Tree Farms.

Join us for the Repurpose Revelry on April 5th from 6 to 9pm at The Olympia Center. This fun event, emceed by Jerry Farmer from ROXY, will feature jazz music by the Greta Jane quartet, appetizers, desserts and a no-host bar. Bid on wonderful repurposed silent-auction items ranging from jewelry and clothing to furniture and household decor. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by clicking HERE or by calling us at 360.586.6181. All proceeds benefit programs of Senior Services for South Sound. 

Thank you Meals On Wheels Association for awarding us $3,500 from the December Share the Love event! Thank you also to Hanson Motors who partnered with us on a food drive and publicity for the event. Without them it would not have been possible!