Newton, NC – Catawba County Senior Nutrition Program announced today that it will be participating in the 16th annual March for Meals – a month-long, community-by-community celebration of Meal on Wheels and the vulnerable seniors who rely on the vital service to remain independent at home. Catawba County Senior Nutrition known as Catawba County Meals on Wheels will celebrate with various activities throughout the month of March, including “Spirit Night” March 21 at Atlanta Bread (1756 Catawba Valley Blvd SE) and Salsarita’s (944 2nd Street NE) from 5 – 9 pm. Proceeds will go to purchase meals for seniors. March 23 will be an Open House at Senior Nutrition Services from 1-3 pm with refreshments, a drawing to win a $100 gift card from Café Rule if you come and sign up to be a volunteer or if you are a current volunteer and bring a new volunteer. Catawba County Senior Nutrition Services is located at 507 Boundary Street Conover, NC. During the month, city and county officials will be delivering meals to MOW recipients to show their support of our homebound seniors and the Meals on Wheels Program.
”The services that we provide the seniors of Catawba County are critical and the need is rapidly increasing,” said Jan Shaffer, Senior Nutrition Manager, of Catawba County Senior Nutrition Program. “Together, we can keep seniors living independently, healthier at home and feeling more connected to their community as they age.”
Catawba County Senior Nutrition served 1528 Catawba County seniors and provided 139,823 meals during FY 2016-2017 through several nutrition programs: Seniors Morning Out, a half day congregate meal program, Meals on Wheels, Special Frozen Meal Program and the Nutritional Supplement Program. More than 1000 dedicated volunteers help with the programs and the nutrition program could not operate without their support.
The annual March for Meals commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.
“This March, hundreds of local Meals on Wheels programs will rally their communities to build the support that will enable them to deliver nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to America’s most at-risk seniors all year long,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “With the demand for Meals on Wheels increasing along with our country’s senior population, we need to ensure that seniors are not forgotten.”
For more information on how you can volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Catawba County call 828-695-5610.
