November 2019
Ordering for Holiday Lunchbox is live
Horizons is excited to announce a special holiday edition of its popular Meals on Wheels Lunchbox fundraiser taking place Dec. 3 through 5.

Every $15 Lunchbox ordered will allow Horizons and Elder Services Inc. to provide two meals to an older adult in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor, ensuring they can continue to receive a well-balanced diet that helps keep them independent in their homes.

Ordering is now available, with deadlines as follows:
  • Tuesday, Dec. 3: 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1
  • Wednesday, Dec. 4: 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2
  • Friday, Dec. 5: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3

Help us bring joy to homebound seniors this holiday by participating in the Lunchbox.
Join Meals on Wheels and Subaru in Sharing the Love
Meals on Wheels agencies including Horizons are participating in the 2019 Subaru Share the Love event .

Now through Jan. 2, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased to the customer's choice of four participating charities. Horizons will receive a share of donations from Subaru vehicles sold at participating retailers as a member of Meals on Wheels America.

Since 2008, Subaru and its retailers have helped Meals on Wheels to deliver more than 2.2 million meals to seniors across the U.S. We are incredibly grateful to Subaru and its retailers for helping to keep seniors in their own homes, where they want to be.
Program briefs
Here's a quick look at what our various departments are doing out in the community:

  • The Brownstone Lunch Club hosted an intergenerational Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 20, bringing seniors together with students from Iowa BIG and Horizons staff over Roast Turkey with Gravy, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Creamy Cranberry Salad, and Pumpkin Pie. "The best part about the meal was that it was home-cooked," commented Pat Ford, Lunch Club attendee. The cost for those under the age of 60 was covered by funding from the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities.
  • Elder Services Inc. will bring a traditional meal "Home for the Holidays" to their homebound senior clients on Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with a special gift bag. "Home for the Holidays" is made possible with support from St. Mary's Catholic Church of Iowa City and Oaknoll Retirement Community.
  • The "Holiday of Hope" drive being put on by Horizons Family Support is helping to lessen the financial stress on already struggling families. The program is working with donors to secure gifts selected by their families and prepare them for delivery before the holiday season.
  • It's a busy time of year for Neighborhood Transportation Service: they're transporting homeless people to the overflow shelter to keep them safe on these cold winter nights. NTS has also shuttled the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and volleyball fans to the state high school tournament, and have future rides planned for the Indian Creek Nature Center and Knights of Columbus.
  • Survivors Program advocates recently braved wintry weather to represent Horizons at Theisen's locations that collectively awarded the agency $8,500 in grant funding to serve those dealing with the loss of a loved one to homicide. Theisen's presented the advocates with checks in a special ceremony.
  • The Financial Health & Wellness program in partnership with GreenState Credit Union has been selected to participate in a study on Creating Financial Stability through Behavioral Change. The parties collaborated over the summer to submit a request for proposal to Duke University and Washington University in St. Louis for the field experiment to promote positive financial behaviors, plus $15,000.
Vote Horizons in the Gazette Gives Back campaign
Horizons will have a full-page ad in the Thanksgiving Day edition of The Gazette, made possible by votes received in last year's Gazette Gives Back campaign. Efforts for 2019 will kick off that same day, with readers of the newspaper given the opportunity to cast their votes for growing advertising dollars with select nonprofits in the Cedar Rapids area.

Be sure to visit The Gazette website starting Nov. 28 and choose Horizons to receive space. Subscribers receive up to five votes, while non-subscribers get one vote. The Gazette is read daily by thousands of Eastern Iowans who either know of someone who could benefit from our services or may need assistance themselves. Your help will allow us to reach these people and make them aware of what we offer the community.
Activities & Events
  • Gazette Gives Back, voting occurs Nov. 28 through Dec. 31 at The Gazette website.
  • Holiday Lunchbox, Tuesday, Dec. 3 through Thursday, Dec. 5. Ordering and volunteer opportunities now available.
  • Horizons Lunch Club, Monday through Friday from 11:15 a.m. to noon. RSVP by calling (319) 398-3574 by 3 p.m. the day before you wish to come. Click to see our menu for November.
  • Volunteer opportunities available for these events and other programs. Contact Sandy Rosenberger for more information.
Horizons, A Family Service Alliance